Is It Apologize Or Apologise Or Apologies?

Contrary to what One Republic and countless rom-coms have told us, it’s never too late to apologize. But there is a right and wrong way to apologize to a friend or loved one—and you want to make sure you get it right the first time. Not only should it be sincere—it should also be well written and contain no grammatical errors! Unfortunately, a spell checker alone may not always help—because all three spellings could be right, depending on the situation.

Desk with a computer, flowers, and a coffee up sitting on it. In the same picture a calendar book is open.

So, what’s the difference between “apologize” and “apologise“? Or should you send your “apologies”? Let’s dive a little bit deeper into each so you can better understand when to use a particular version—and how context, audience, and location all play a role:

When to apologize. If you live in the United States, “apologize” is the correct form of the verb (e.g. “I apologize for being so rude yesterday.”) It’s the original iteration and it is used when writing English in the US. Those who write for both American and British audiences will find that there are many words that have an American spelling and a British spelling (e.g., apologize vs. apologise, neighbor vs. neighbour, color vs. colour, spelled vs. spelt).

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[FUN FACT: The word apology comes from the Greek word “apologia” and means “a speech in one’s own defense.” In the mid-16th century, apologia evolved into apology, then became a phrase for “I’m sorry” nearly 100 years later, thanks to none other than William Shakespeare in his play Richard III. Apologize has been more prominently used since the 1800s in America and has been the preferred variant.]

When to apologise. As we alluded to above, not everything is the same, even if we’re all speaking the same language. Different dialects of English are spoken all around the globe. For example—the spelling of the color “gray”, which is the commonly used spelling in the US. Outside the country, “grey” is the preferred spelling. Similarly, “apologise” is the British variant of “apologize”. While Canada is a close neighbor to the US, the British spelling is preferred over the American iteration. Interestingly, the -ize ending is now taking a stronger hold even in Great Britain, where many publishers are choosing to use the “North American” version. By the way, if you are writing to someone in a different country, you can always change your spell check preferences to match that specific location.

[NOTE: Regardless of the spelling, the pronunciation is still the same. Apologise doesn’t call for a softer “s” sound. It’s merely a cultural difference writers need to be aware of when looking for the correct use of the word.]

When to send your apologies. Knowing when to use the word “apologize” versus “apologies” comes down to the context of its use. To apologize is a verb because it’s an action you’re performing. But “apologies” is a plural noun because your apology is something you’re giving or conveying to another person. (e.g., Lisa sends her apologies for missing your party on Friday.”) In other words, you might apologize by sending your apologies.

When it comes down to it, all three forms are correct—but you need to understand when it’s appropriate to use each. Knowing the context of the situation, who you’re speaking to, and the location where it will be read is the key to getting it right the first time!