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Apology Letter

By: Jeff Durham - Updated: 28 Oct 2014 | comments

A letter of apology can often resolve issues not only between friends but can also be used in a business setting. For example it may be to apologise to a customer for bad service or for faulty or damaged goods.

Whatever the nature of the apology, a letter sent soon after the unfortunate event can heal wounds, repair damaged relationships, maintain good business relationships and stop what might be a small issue escalating into a much bigger problem which might become irreparable.

If you are honest and sincere about any mistakes you have made, an apology letter will often be received in the manner in which you intended it to be and you will usually find that most people will be understanding and willing to forgive your misdemeanour.

Depending on the specific situation, if the recipient has suffered some kind of financial loss as a result of your actions, then offering to rectify that is considered the most appropriate way of showing your remorse. It’s also important to indicate that you value your relationship with the recipient, be that a friendship for a personal matter or as a customer if the apology relates to a business issue. Handwritten apologies are usually better if the matter’s personal but a typed letter is more appropriate if it relates to a business matter.

Sooner rather than later is the best time to send an apology letter. This holds true in almost all business cases. However, if it is a personal issue, your own knowledge of the person to whom you’re writing and your relationship with them might lead you to think that a suitable ‘cooling off’ period is better before you write the letter.

How to Write it

Here is an example of an apology letter written to a friend.

Dear Joan,

I am so sorry for the way I behaved last Saturday evening and for all of the terrible things I said about you when we were all in the pub.

Although I had far too much to drink that night, I had absolutely no excuses for launching into that verbal attack on you and I can only offer my sincerest apologies.

I’ve always valued your friendship and the things you have done for me and, likewise, I hope I have always tried to be there for you too in both good times and bad. We’ve been friends for more than 10 years and I’d like to think you’d agree with me that we shouldn’t throw away our years of friendship just because of my stupid outburst in the pub the other evening, even though I appreciate the fact that I caused you so much embarrassment which I regret deeply.

I would like to take you and David out for a meal on me at the Horns Hotel as a small way of saying ‘sorry’, if you’ll forgive me - so can you please give me a call when you get chance and I hope you’ll both agree to come as it’s the very least I can do.I would hate to lose such a dear friend so, once again, my sincerest apologies and I hope to hear from you very soon.

Love from Kath