Cool MateApologies vs Excuse
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Apologies
Top 2,000 (common)
Excuse
Top 1,000 (very common)B2noun
Most common: Excuse
| Apologies | Excuse | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //əˈpɒlədʒiz//🇺🇸 //əˈpɑːlədʒiz// | 🇬🇧 /["/ɪkˈskjuːs/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ɪkˈskjuːs/"]/ |
| Meaning | Saying you're sorry for something you did wrong. | A reason you give to explain bad behavior or to get out of something. |
| Example | He made his apologies to the crowd for being late. | She made an excuse for being late to the meeting. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | - | B2 |
| Part of speech | noun | |
| Collocations | extend apologies, offer apologies, accept apologies, make an apology, issue apologies | perfect, wonderful, excellent, have, give, make, excuse about, excuse for, there is no excuse for…, perfect, wonderful, excellent, have, give, make, excuse about, excuse for, there is no excuse for…, lousy, miserable, pathetic, excuse for |
| Antonyms | refusal, insult, offense | blame, accusation |
| Common mistakes | Using 'apologies' without specifying what for., Confusing 'apologies' with 'apologize' as a verb., Overusing 'apologies' in casual contexts. | Using 'excuse' instead of 'excuse me' for polite interruptions., Confusing 'excuse' with 'apology', thinking they mean the same., Using 'excuse' without an object; it typically is followed by what you are excusing. |
| Usage notes | Use 'apologies' in both formal and informal settings. In formal contexts, use complete phrases like 'I offer my sincere apologies'. Avoid using it in casual conversations where just 'sorry' may suffice. | Use 'excuse' when you need to explain why you did something wrong or when you want permission to not do something. It's neutral but can sound insincere in some contexts. |
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Frequently asked questions: Apologies vs Excuse
What's the difference between Apologies and Excuse?
Apologies: Saying you're sorry for something you did wrong. Excuse: A reason you give to explain bad behavior or to get out of something.
Which is more common: Apologies and Excuse?
Excuse is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Apologies: He made his apologies to the crowd for being late. Excuse: She made an excuse for being late to the meeting.
Can I use Apologies and Excuse interchangeably?
Not always. Apologies and Excuse are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.