HELPFUL PHRASES WHEN OFFERING A MEANINGFUL APOLOGY 
                                                    ~By Linda J. MacDonald 
When we have injured our partners by doing something that hurt them, made 
them feel betrayed in some way, it is important to respond as soon as possible, 
humbly, without excuse and with sincere remorse. Here are some sample phrases that might be helpful: 
•	It was sooo wrong of me to do that to you! 
•	I can see that what I did was very hurtful to you. I am sooo sorry. 
•	I wounded you! (or) I injured you! 
•	I am sooo sorry that I did ___________	to you. 
•	I feel terrible about (behavior - my specific wrong actions) and that I hurt 
you so badly. 
•	I NEVER should have _________________
•	I was completely out of line. 
•	I don't blame you for feeling (betrayed, hurt, let down, wounded, injured, 
disappointed, unprotected, offended, etc) by what I did. 
•	I was completely in the wrong. 
•	That was terrible of me. 
•	You did not deserve ____________ [my hurtful actions] 
•	When I blamed you, it was out of my own guilt. I was the one who was in the wrong.
•	Instead of _________________ I should have _____________________.
•	When I ... (laughed at you, betrayed you, was insensitive to you, went behind 
your back, insulted you, criticized you, made you feel rejected, etc.} ... I was 
completely wrong. It makes me feel ill to think I hurt you in that way. 
•	I feel awful that I did that to you. 
•	I deeply regret _________ I can see why that injured you horribly
•	That was sooo stupid of me! I hate that I did that to you. You mean so much 
to me.  
•	I should NEVER have __________________	 
•	I will NEVER do that again! You are too important to me. 
•	I don't want to ever jeopardize our relationship like that ever again. 
•	I feel terrible that I ______________

•	I'm sorry I didn't recognize it at the time. I was so blind. 
•	You have/had every right to be angry with me. 
•	How can I ever make it up to you? You mean the world to me. 
•	I hope someday you can forgive me.