My bad

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "My bad" is a colloquialism and is generally used in informal writing and speech.
It is used to express apology or regret for something that you have done wrong. For example, if you did not remember to bring your friend something that they asked for, you could say "My bad, I forgot to bring it."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Tech

Sports

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

What's an ANE?" The answer is AN E. My bad.

The New York Times

My bad.

The New York Times

"My bad," Ambrose said.

The New York Times

My bad words best collection.

The New Yorker

My bad, that's four letters.

The New Yorker

My bad for not noticing it until now.

The New York Times

"My bad, just found out Jenson never followed me.

Independent

My bad, as the kids say.

The New Yorker

My bad chaps".

BBC

My bad, guys.

TechCrunch

My bad — maybe.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "My bad" in informal settings to quickly acknowledge a minor error. It is best suited for conversations with friends, family, or close colleagues.

Common error

Avoid using "My bad" in professional emails, presentations, or formal reports. Opt for more professional alternatives like "I apologize" or "I take responsibility" to maintain credibility.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "My bad" is that of an interjection. It serves to express a sudden feeling or remark, specifically an apology or admission of fault. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a direct way to acknowledge responsibility.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Tech

12%

Sports

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Science

2%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

"My bad" is a common interjection used to quickly acknowledge a mistake in informal settings. As Ludwig AI suggests, it conveys remorse or recognition of a fault. While grammatically correct, it's crucial to reserve its use for casual conversations, as its informal register is inappropriate for professional communication. More formal alternatives, such as "I apologize" or "I take responsibility", are better suited for those contexts. The phrase appears frequently in news, tech, and sports reporting, but is less common in formal or academic writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

My fault

A more direct and slightly less casual way of admitting responsibility.

That was my mistake

Identifies the error as belonging to the speaker, but less colloquial.

I was wrong

A straightforward admission of error, lacking the colloquial tone.

I messed up

Similar level of formality, focuses on the negative consequence of the action.

I screwed up

More informal and emphatic, suggests a more significant error.

I apologize

A more formal expression of regret, suitable for professional contexts.

Mea culpa

A Latin phrase meaning "my fault", often used in more formal or literary contexts.

It was an oversight on my part

More formal and specific, suggests a mistake due to negligence.

I take full responsibility

A strong statement of accountability, often used in serious situations.

I didn't mean to do that

Focuses on the lack of intent behind the action.

FAQs

How to use "My bad" in a sentence?

"My bad" is typically used as a standalone interjection to quickly acknowledge a mistake. For example, if you bump into someone, you could say, "My bad!"

What can I say instead of "My bad"?

You can use alternatives like "my fault", "I apologize", or "I was wrong" depending on the context.

Is "My bad" appropriate in professional settings?

"My bad" is generally considered too informal for professional settings. It's better to use more formal expressions of apology or acknowledgment.

What's the difference between "My bad" and "mea culpa"?

"My bad" is a colloquial expression, while "mea culpa" is a Latin phrase that is more formal and often used in literary or serious contexts.