Knowing how to apologize in a business email is tricky. You’ve got to try and sound polite and professional at the same time.
Of course, “please accept my apology” works, but is it the most effective phrase?
Luckily, we’re here to help. This article has gathered the best synonyms for “please accept my apology.”
Other Ways to Say “Please Accept My Apology”
- I am very sorry. Is there anything I can do?
- I hope you can forgive me
- Can you look past this mistake?
- Can you forgive me?
- I hope you don’t hold this against me
- My deepest apologies
- My sincerest apologies
- Please forgive me
- I did not mean to do that
- My humblest apologies
- I am so sorry about this
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- “Please accept my apology” is correct and formally acceptable, so you can use it in an email.
- You can say “I am very sorry. Is there anything I can do?” in most professional settings to offer a solution.
- Try “I hope you can forgive me” in more casual situations to let someone know you’re sorry.
Read on to learn more about the best synonyms for “please accept my apology.” We will touch on the best phrases, both formally and informally, to help you mix things up.
Alternatively, you can skip to the final section. Then, you can learn whether it’s correct to say “please accept my apology” in the first place.
I Am Very Sorry. Is There Anything I Can Do? (Formal)
Let’s break this next phrase into two parts. After all, both parts are useful when you want to be polite.
“I am very sorry” is a simple apologetic phrase. It shows you how to say “please accept my apology” professionally without using too many words to confuse the reader.
From there, “is there anything I can do?” is a formal question that finds out whether you can help someone. Generally, it shows that you accept responsibility for a mistake and want to fix the problem by offering your services.
You might use this phrase when emailing a client after a mistake. It shows that you want to help them and make their experience dealing with your company better.
It’s worth using “I am very sorry. Is there anything I can do?” over “please accept my apology.” When emailing clients, it is even more effective, so it will help you come across as more polite and professional.
Check out this sample email if you still need help with it:
Dear Arianna,
I am very sorry. Is there anything I can do? I, of course, appreciate this isn’t the best time for something like this to happen.
Yours,
Damian
I Hope You Can Forgive Me (Informal)
You can say “I hope you can forgive me” in informal situations. It’s a good way to replace “please accept my apology” when you want to sound more friendly and regretful.
It certainly has a more personal touch to it. So, you can use it when emailing colleagues you have a close relationship with. It shows that you regret doing something to inconvenience them.
The phrase also works when messaging friends. It shows that you want a friend’s forgiveness for doing something that you might regret.
Unfortunately, “I hope you can forgive me” does not work in formal settings. It’s too casual and regretful. So, stick with “please accept my apology” to sound as professional as possible.
Here are some examples to also show you how it works:
Hey Mack,
I hope you can forgive me for my oversight! Of course, I won’t let it happen again.
All the best,
Crystal
I hope you can forgive me, Jack. After all, It was never my intention to cause harm like this!
Is It Correct to Say “Please Accept My Apology”?
It is correct to say “please accept my apology.” You can use it in most formal emails when you want to apologize for something you take responsibility for.
For example:
Dear Adrian,
Of course, it is our fault that you have had to deal with such a traumatic situation. Please accept my apology.
All the best,
Duncan
It’s a professional way to let someone know that you are asking for forgiveness. Most companies adopt the phrase when talking to customers to show them that they’re apologetic.
Generally, you can use the singular or plural forms, such as:
- Please accept my apology
- Please accept my apologies
Both are correct. “Apology” makes it sound more personal because you’re only referring to one instance to apologize for.
“Apologies” might work better in a business setting when you represent a company rather than an individual.
You should keep this page bookmarked to remind yourself of the best synonyms for “please accept my apology.” Then, you’ll always have something new and interesting to include in your writing.
