ask your forgiveness

USAGE SUMMARY

"ask your forgiveness" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is used when one person is asking another person for forgiveness for something they have done. For example: "I am sorry for what I said, and I ask your forgiveness."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

15 human-written examples

We ask your forgiveness.

The New York Times

I was wrong, and I ask your forgiveness".

The Guardian

When your rifle is pointed at their chest, they'll ask your forgiveness.

The Guardian - Sport

"For this reason, with all humility I ask your forgiveness," he said.

The Guardian

"I ask your forgiveness and the forgiveness of the people of Israel".

The New York Times

"Did he ever ask your forgiveness for what he'd done to you?" "Ask my forgiveness?" She stared, dumbfounded.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

44 human-written examples

At the Western Wall, Judaism's most-sacred site, he inserted a prayer note of apology for past Christian misdeeds into the stones: we are deeply saddened by the behaviour of those who in the course of history have caused these children of yours to suffer, and asking your forgiveness we wish to commit ourselves to genuine brotherhood with the people of the Covenant.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Response by Pope John Paul II: God of our fathers, you chose Abraham and his descendants to bring your name to the nations: We are deeply saddened by the behavior of those who in the course of history have caused these children of yours to suffer, and asking your forgiveness we wish to commit ourselves to genuine brotherhood with the people of the Covenant.

The New York Times

He said, "We are deeply saddened by the behavior of those who in the course of history have caused these children of yours to suffer, and asking your forgiveness we commit ourselves to genuine brotherhood with the people of the Covenant".

The New York Times

God of our fathers, You chose Abraham and his descendants to bring your Name to the Nations: We are deeply saddened by the behavior of those who in the course of history have caused these children of yours to suffer, and asking your forgiveness we wish to commit ourselves to genuine brotherhood with the people of the Covenant.

Huffington Post

Everything I did was boneheaded, and I humbly asked your forgiveness' — and said that all the way through," Mr. Norris said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "ask your forgiveness", ensure the context clearly indicates what you are seeking forgiveness for. Be specific and sincere in your apology.

Common error

Avoid making a general apology without detailing the specific action you are seeking forgiveness for. This can make the apology seem insincere or incomplete. Always clarify what you are apologizing for to ensure clarity and demonstrate genuine remorse.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "ask your forgiveness" functions as a performative utterance. It is used to perform the act of seeking absolution from someone you have wronged. Ludwig AI confirms this with various examples showing its usage in contexts of remorse and seeking reconciliation.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Encyclopedias

20%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "ask your forgiveness" is a common and grammatically correct way to seek absolution, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. It is typically used to express remorse and request forgiveness for a wrong committed. While the phrase is versatile, it tends to lean towards a neutral register, with usage observed frequently in News & Media. Remember to be sincere and specific when seeking forgiveness. Alternatives like "seek your pardon" or "request your absolution" can be used to convey a more formal tone, as appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

beg your forgiveness

Emphasizes humility by using "beg" instead of "ask".

seek your pardon

Replaces "ask" with "seek" and "forgiveness" with "pardon", altering the tone slightly.

implore you to forgive me

Changes the structure to a direct request, using "implore" for emphasis and adding "me".

entreat your forgiveness

Utilizes "entreat" to convey a sincere and earnest request.

request your absolution

Uses more formal vocabulary, replacing "ask" with "request" and "forgiveness" with "absolution".

solicit your forgiveness

Replaces "ask" with "solicit", making the request sound slightly more formal.

appeal to your forgiveness

Presents the request as an appeal, seeking a favorable response.

desire your forgiveness

Substitutes "ask" with "desire", softening the request.

crave your indulgence

Uses a more archaic and formal tone, implying a request for leniency.

hope for your forgiveness

Shifts the focus to expressing hope rather than directly asking.

FAQs

How do I use "ask your forgiveness" in a sentence?

You can use "ask your forgiveness" when you want to express remorse and seek absolution for something you have done. For example, "I realize I made a mistake, and I "ask your forgiveness"".

What is a more formal way to say "ask your forgiveness"?

A more formal way to say "ask your forgiveness" is to use phrases like "request your absolution" or "seek your pardon". These options convey a higher degree of formality and respect.

When is it appropriate to use "ask your forgiveness"?

It is appropriate to use "ask your forgiveness" when you have genuinely wronged someone and wish to express sincere regret and seek their absolution. The sincerity of your apology should match the severity of the offense.

What's the difference between "ask your forgiveness" and "apologize"?

"Apologize" is a general expression of regret, while ""ask your forgiveness"" is a specific request for absolution. You can apologize without necessarily seeking forgiveness, but asking for forgiveness implies a deeper level of remorse and a desire for reconciliation.