sorry for late

USAGE SUMMARY

'sorry for late' is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when you are apologising for arriving or responding late to something. Example: I'm sorry for late, but I'm just getting back from holiday.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Sorry for late tweet on silence.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Sorry for the late start, regular readers - minor technical 'challenges' this morning.

The Guardian - Business

Updated at 10.52am GMT 10.03am GMT I'm sorry for the late start.

The Guardian

"There is no excuse for this to have happened and the NQJ campaign is very sorry for your late night interruption".

The New York Times

After such a meal, it's hard not to feel a little sorry for the late arrivals confronted by the "Closed" sign.

The New Yorker

The hosts, John and LP, are such interesting characters, living a nocturnal lifestyle: their listing says "Sorry for our late checking in but we sleep until 5pm".

The Guardian - Travel

Christians have traditionally pitied those good Romans who lived before the birth of Christ, and, in the same spirit, I feel sorry for those late Victorians who died just too early to read Wodehouse.

The New Yorker

He got back to me the next day saying sorry for his late reply and to let me know that after our last date, he started to talk to his ex and they were going to try and work things out.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The thought of not reading Wodehouse strikes me as no less indecent, and in some ways no less impractical, than walking down Madison Avenue wearing only a pair of loafers.... Christians have traditionally pitied those good Romans who lived before the birth of Christ, and, in the same spirit, I feel sorry for those late Victorians who died just too early to read Wodehouse.

The New Yorker

Vice, Just found this mag lying in our apartment - sure it is outdated, so sorry for the late reply.

Vice

Let your supervisor know that you have made it to work, and say you are sorry for arriving late.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "sorry for late", be specific about what you're apologizing for (e.g., "sorry for the late reply", "sorry for the late notice"). This provides clarity and context.

Common error

Don't just say "sorry for late" without specifying what you're late for. Saying "sorry for the late response" is much clearer and more professional than a general apology.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "sorry for late" functions as an apology, expressing regret for a delay. Ludwig AI confirms its usability, particularly when followed by a specific reason for the tardiness. The examples illustrate its common use in informal communication.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

50%

Science

0%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "sorry for late" is a grammatically correct phrase used to apologize for delays. Ludwig AI confirms its usability, though specifying the cause of the delay is recommended for clarity. While its frequency is rare, it appears across various sources, including News & Media and Wiki. For more formal settings, consider alternatives like "apologies for the delay". Remember to be specific about the cause of lateness, making your apology more effective and understandable.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

i'm sorry i'm late

A simpler and more direct way of expressing the apology.

sorry for the delay

Replaces "late" with the more specific "delay", making it clearer.

sorry for the belated reply

Indicates that the apology is for a reply that came later than expected.

apologies for the delay

Uses a more formal tone with "apologies" instead of "sorry" and specifies "delay".

my apologies for being late

Restructures the sentence to emphasize the act of being late.

i apologize for my late response

Specifies the reason for the apology is the delayed response.

excuse my tardiness

A formal way of apologizing for being late, employing a different vocabulary.

pardon my late arrival

A formal expression used when arriving late.

please forgive my lateness

Formally requests forgiveness for being late, using "lateness".

please accept my apologies for the delay

A very formal apology, emphasizing acceptance of responsibility.

FAQs

What does "sorry for late" mean?

The phrase "sorry for late" is used to express an apology for something that is delayed or has occurred later than expected. It's often followed by a specific explanation, such as "sorry for the late reply" or "sorry for the late notice".

What can I say instead of "sorry for late"?

You can use alternatives such as "apologies for the delay", "sorry for the delay", or "I apologize for my late response" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "sorry for late" or "sorry for the delay"?

While "sorry for late" is understandable, "sorry for the delay" is grammatically more standard and provides clearer communication. Always specify what you are late for.

How can I use "sorry for late" in a sentence?

You might say "Sorry for late, I just got back from vacation". However, it's better to be more specific: "Sorry for the late reply, I was on vacation" or "Apologies for the delay in responding".