Sentry Page Protection

Letter of apology

The letter of apology is a letter that literally apologizes for something that the writer of the letter did that was wrong. The purpose of this letter is to show written remorse. This type of letter can either be a business letter or a friendly letter, depending on the recipient of the letter. If the recipient is a place of business, then it takes the business letter format, but if the recipient is a neighbour, friend, family member or acquaintance, then the friendly letter format is appropriate. There must be a clear description of the issue or problem that you caused, why you feel remorse and a clear request for forgiveness. You can even suggest ways that you can make up for the problem(s) that you caused.
 Checklist for Letter of Apology
  1. Proper greeting - Use a respectful salutation because you are apologetic, so this adds to the apologetic tone.
  2. Opening statement - Clearly state that you are apologizing.
  3. Acknowledgement of the issue - Show that you understand what went wrong, so be specific about the mistake and accept fault without excuses.
  4. Expression of regret - Ensure that you convey genuine remorse.
  5. Explanation - This option is optional and must not be used as an excuse, instead, keep the explanation short and factual.
  6. Corrective action - State what you are going to do to fix the situation or prevent it from happening again. If possible, suggest a way to repair the damage.
  7. Closing statement - Restate your apology and the fact that you appreciate their understanding.
  8. Polite closing salutation - Use a courteous closing and sign your name.
Format: Letter of Apology (Business)
Format: Letter of Apology (Friendly)
Example: Letter of Apology (Business)
​Example: Letter of Apology (Friendly)
​Contributor: Leisa Samuels-Thomas

​Reference:
https://gallaudet.edu/student-success/tutorial-center/english-center/writing/how-to-write-letters/how-to-write-apologies/ ​