terribly sorry

USAGE SUMMARY

"terribly sorry" is a grammatically correct phrase and can be used in written English.
You can use it to apologize for your mistakes, such as: "I'm terribly sorry for forgetting our appointment."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

We are terribly sorry and this is a terrible tragedy for our nation," he said.

BBC

"I'm terribly sorry.

The Economist

We're terribly sorry.

Harvard Business Review

I'm so terribly sorry.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

"I am so terribly sorry.

The New York Times

Clarkson: I'm most terribly sorry.

The Guardian

Cameron: I'm terribly, terribly sorry.

The Guardian

"I'm terribly sorry," she said.

The Guardian - Money

I'm terribly sorry to comment this here.

University of California, Berkeley

"I'm terribly sorry, Rabbi," he said.

The New Yorker

"I'm terribly sorry for your loss.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "terribly sorry" to express sincere regret or apology, especially in situations where you want to convey a strong sense of remorse without sounding overly dramatic. Consider the context to ensure it aligns with the level of formality.

Common error

Avoid using "terribly sorry" in trivial situations, as it can dilute its impact. Reserve it for more significant instances where a genuine apology is warranted to maintain its sincerity and effectiveness.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "terribly sorry" functions primarily as an expression of apology or regret. According to Ludwig AI, it's grammatically correct and used to convey a strong sense of remorse for a mistake, error, or unfortunate situation. The word "terribly" intensifies the expression of being "sorry."

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

76%

Academia

9%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Science

5%

Reference

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "terribly sorry" is a grammatically correct and frequently used expression to convey sincere regret or apology. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's applicable in various contexts, although best reserved for situations requiring a more emphatic apology. Its usage is prevalent in News & Media sources, indicating its appropriateness in both formal and neutral settings. Alternatives include "extremely sorry" and "awfully sorry". However, overuse in trivial situations should be avoided to maintain its impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

extremely sorry

Uses "extremely" for a slightly more emphatic apology.

awfully sorry

Employs "awfully" as an alternative intensifier.

horribly sorry

Replaces "terribly" with "horribly", conveying a strong sense of regret.

deeply regretful

Changes the structure to an adjectival phrase expressing profound regret.

sincerely apologetic

Formalizes the apology with "sincerely apologetic".

genuinely remorseful

Highlights the authenticity of the regret.

profoundly sorry

Emphasizes the depth of the regret using "profoundly".

incredibly sorry

Uses "incredibly" for a high degree of apology.

utterly regretful

Conveys a complete sense of regret.

exceptionally sorry

Uses "exceptionally" to indicate a heightened level of regret.

FAQs

How can I use "terribly sorry" in a sentence?

You can use "terribly sorry" to express sincere regret. For example: "I am "terribly sorry" for the misunderstanding" or "We're "terribly sorry" for the inconvenience."

What are some alternatives to saying "terribly sorry"?

Alternatives include "extremely sorry", "awfully sorry", or "deeply regretful", depending on the context and the level of formality required.

When is it appropriate to use "terribly sorry"?

It's appropriate to use "terribly sorry" when you want to convey a sincere and relatively strong apology for a mistake or unfortunate situation. However, avoid using it in very minor situations where a simple "sorry" would suffice.

Is "terribly sorry" more or less formal than "very sorry"?

"Terribly sorry" is generally considered slightly more formal and emphatic than "very sorry". Both express regret, but "terribly" adds a degree of intensity.