express regret that

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "express regret that" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when conveying feelings of sorrow or disappointment about a specific situation or event. Example: "I must express regret that we were unable to meet the deadline for the project."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

23 human-written examples

I express regret that a woman was not chosen.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

I wondered if journalists would express regret that someone like Romney wasn't contending.

The New York Times

We will pause here briefly to express regret that questions like this don't come up more frequently in gubernatorial debates.

The New York Times

Mr. Obama did not express regret that the courts did not take steps to spread wealth, as Republicans contended.

The New York Times

"I want to express regret that some people have been harmed by information in the registry," he said.

The New York Times - Tech

Other newspapers express regret that Russia is leading the opposition to Greece's claims and supporting the Bulgarians, who have replaced the Turks by their outrages in Macedonia.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

37 human-written examples

It's led some in the press to express regrets that they'd been guilty.

HuffPost

Mr. Vershbow expressed regret that he was misunderstood.

The New York Times

Patty expressed regret that she had been unable to send a gift to Annie.

The New York Times

Last week, before their discovery, he expressed regret that he had not been there to help them.

The Telegraph

Three players— Hansa Narasimhan, JoAnna Stansby and Jill Meyers — have expressed regret that the action offended some people.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "express regret that", ensure the context clearly indicates what you are feeling sorry about. Be specific to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

In casual conversations, using "express regret that" can sound overly formal or insincere. Opt for simpler alternatives like "I'm sorry that" or "I regret that" to maintain a natural tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "express regret that" functions as a performative utterance, where the act of saying it accomplishes the action of expressing regret. It often introduces a clause explaining the reason for the regret. Ludwig provides numerous examples demonstrating its use in formal communication.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

25%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Science

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "express regret that" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression to formally convey sorrow or disappointment. As demonstrated by Ludwig's examples, it is prevalent in news media and formal business communications. While versatile, it's important to consider the context and choose a more appropriate term for informal situations. The phrase functions performatively, accomplishing the action of expressing regret through its utterance. The provided related phrases and writing guidance offer further refinement in expressing similar sentiments with nuance and precision.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

state my regret that

More formal and direct, simply stating the regret without additional emotion.

offer my sincere regrets that

Adds emphasis to the regret, highlighting sincerity.

feel sorry that

A simpler, more direct expression of feeling sorry about something.

convey my apologies for

Replaces "express regret" with a more direct apology, focusing on conveying remorse.

wish to apologize for

Directly offers an apology, shifting the focus from regret to taking responsibility.

communicate my remorse for

Focuses on the feeling of remorse, which is a deeper sense of regret.

indicate my sorrow that

Emphasizes the sadness related to the event.

share my disappointment that

Highlights the disappointment associated with the situation.

lament that

A more formal and somewhat literary way to express regret.

rue the fact that

Implies a deeper, more prolonged sense of regret.

FAQs

How can I use "express regret that" in a sentence?

You can use "express regret that" to formally convey sorrow or disappointment. For example, "I express regret that I am unable to attend the meeting."

What is a less formal alternative to "express regret that"?

Less formal alternatives include phrases like "I'm sorry that", "I regret that", or "I'm disappointed that". These are more appropriate for casual conversations.

Is there a difference between "I regret that" and "express regret that"?

While both phrases convey regret, "express regret that" ("express regret that") is generally more formal and emphasizes the act of communicating the regret. "I regret that" is a simpler statement of feeling.

When should I use "express regret that" versus "offer an apology"?

"Express regret that" is suitable when conveying sorrow or disappointment, while "offer an apology" is used when taking responsibility for a mistake or offense. They are used in different contexts.