How to professionally write an apology email

 

When to write an apology email

An apology email is no different than if you were to be apologizing in person; however, the challenge in an email is you want to convey the same sincerity that is usually heard in your voice. When you apologize for a mistake that was made and communicate your regrets for making the mistake, you should also try to rebuild the trust that may have been lost in light of the mistake. All of these aspects are important in a sincere apology email.

Let’s say, for instance, you failed to meet a deadline, there was a lack of communication on your side, or something that you produced was unsatisfactory. These are just a few common scenarios where an apology email is appropriate. In each case, taking accountability and addressing the mistake directly shows professionalism and integrity.

Whether or not you should send an apology email depends on the situation and the impact of the mistake. If your error has affected someone's trust, work, or expectations, it's important to take responsibility and apologize promptly. On the other hand, if the mistake was minor or didn’t significantly affect others, a verbal apology or a quick in-person acknowledgment might be more appropriate. Ultimately, the decision should depend on the severity of the mistake and the need to rebuild trust or clarify the situation.

Apology email subject lines

Before getting down to the nitty-gritty of writing your apology email, we mustn’t forget to find the right subject line. This is the first thing the recipient will see, setting the tone for how your apology email will be received. Most importantly, you want the subject line you choose to clearly convey the purpose of your email so it doesn’t go unnoticed. Here are a few ideas for professional apology email subject lines:

1. "Apologies for the Confusion During Our Call"
2. "Clarification on Earlier Email – My Apologies"
3. "Apology for Overlooking Your Feedback"
4. "My Sincere Apologies for the Oversight on [Topic]"
5. "Apology for the Delay in Providing Requested Information"
6. "Miscommunication on [Project/Task] – Please Accept My Apologies"
7. "Apology for Not Looping You In Sooner"
8. "Follow-Up and Apology for Missing the Deadline"
9. "Apologies for the Mistake in the Previous Version"
10. "Acknowledging My Error on [Topic] – Sincere Apologies"

How to structure an apology email

Apologizing in an email can take multiple forms depending on the severity of the mistake and how much of an inconvenience was caused. To set up your apology email for success, it needs to have these elements:

1. Start on a positive note: Begin your apology email with a positive and professional tone. This will ensure it is received by the recipient in a positive way. All defensive and negative language should be avoided.
2. Sincerity is key: Your apology should be clearly stated in your email. Make sure your apology is coming from the heart and a place of sincerity.
3. Take accountability: Acknowledge your mistake or error and take responsibility for it. This also leaves little to no room for there to be any misunderstandings of your apology.
4. Prevention plan: Include a plan or resolution to make sure the same mistake doesn’t repeat itself in the future, causing similar issues.

Additionally, depending on the situation:

• Make things right: For small business owners and entrepreneurs, a situation can occur that requires a solution for a customer, such as a refund, discount, or some other action to make things right. This would also be included in your professional apology email.

How to apologize professionally in an email without saying sorry

Although saying “sorry” is the most straightforward way to express an apology, you can also convey an apologetic nature without directly using the words “I am sorry.” Here is how:

1. Reassure: Provide assurance that you acknowledge the issue and that you will be more cautious to ensure the mistake is not repeated, e.g., “Moving forward, I will add an extra verification step to ensure this does not happen again.”
2. Take responsibility: acknowledge your role in the mistakes or errors and amplify that to your recipient, e.g., “I do understand my role in this situation, and I now see that I could have handled this better.”
3. Give a solution: Come up with a resolution or solution to solve the problem at hand, e.g., “To correct these mistakes, I would propose that we have a weekly meeting to resolve the issue of deadlines being met.”
4. Express regret: You can express regret without saying “sorry,” e.g., “I regret the inconvenience and frustration this situation has caused you.”  

How to write an email correcting a mistake

This type of apology email is the most common in the professional setting. Sometimes you send the wrong email or incorrect figures, or accidentally publish information that was not supposed to be. Regardless of the details, the structural elements do not differ too much for composing an email correcting the mistake:

1. Apologize first: Start your email acknowledging the mistake and taking accountability for it, e.g., “Since our last correspondence, I have noticed a mistake on my side, and I would like to apologize for any inconvenience it may have caused you.”
2. Explain what happened: Communicate clearly what the mistake was and how it occurred. Being transparent and honest is key, e.g., “Unfortunately, I provided last year’s projections instead of the ones updated for this year.”
3. Fix your mistake: Give the correct information that was needed or take steps to correct the mistake, e.g., “I have subsequentially attached the correct projections to this email for your review.”
4. Reassure your recipient: Due to the inconvenience of the mistake, it is helpful to let your recipient know that you are taking steps to prevent this from happening again in the future. This also helps your recipient reestablish trust in your abilities, e.g., “I have created a separate email folder to separate the information for different years and time periods going forward.”
5. Thank your recipient: Your email should be positive and professional throughout, but to drive it home you should thank your recipient for their time, understanding, and patience, e.g., “Thank you for bringing this mistake to my attention. I appreciate your understanding and patience while I corrected it.”

How to apologize professionally in an email sample:

A professional apology email is made with sincerity and honesty. As stated previously, there are many ways to write a professional apology email even when you do not want to directly say “sorry.” Here are some examples:

Professional apology email sample

Professional apology email sample without saying sorry

Group apology email sample

Maybe you are still working on breaking your bad email habits and accidentally hit “reply all” with information that not everyone was supposed to receive. So, now you have to send an apology email (however, try using the CC and BCC functions to save you the headache next time).
 

How to say sorry for wrong information in email sample

 
Apologizing via email does not have to be so difficult. As long as the apology is well thought-out, sincere, and honest, you can’t go wrong.

Before you go off testing your new email apologizing skills, sign-up for a free email account with us today!

This article first appeared on May 15, 2023, and was updated on April 22, 2025.

Images: 1&1
 

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