to apologize about

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "to apologize about" is not considered correct in standard written English.
The correct preposition to use with "apologize" is "for." Example: "I want to apologize for my mistake in the report."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

It's nothing to apologize about".

The New Yorker

"I don't think America has anything to apologize about," General Powell said en route to Mali, in response to critics who have said the amount should be higher.

The New York Times

"It should be something you don't have to apologize about".

Los Angeles Times

"Mark took the step to apologize," about the privacy problems, she notes.

The New York Times

Asked if he felt guilty about anything, he said, "There is nothing for me to apologize about to Novaya Gazeta".

The New York Times

There is nothing for us to apologize about in terms of helping those people free themselves from a tyrant who is renowned in the world among all tyrants.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

He doesn't have to apologize or rationalize about poor play like Tiger Woods because, while he isn't playing great, he isn't round-by-round imploding like Woods.

Los Angeles Times

Another member backed a separate suit challenging the board's election procedures; earlier, he had been forced to apologize for a remark about the ethnic background of yet another board member, the state treasurer.

The New York Times

The new bill not only protects phone companies from having to admit or apologize about allowing the government to listen in on calls and net communications in the post September 11, war on terror, warrantless wiretapping program, but it also expanded the government's surveillance abilities going forward.

TechCrunch

Look, Mr. Perry is never going to apologize for caring about children, they will say.

The New York Times

8.36pm GMT Speaking of Chris Christie: Mitt Romney called him to apologize for leaks about the New Jersey governor's vetting in last year's vice presidential search that appear in the hot new campaign tell-all Double Down: Game Change 2012.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use the preposition "for" after "apologize". For example, use "apologize for the mistake" instead of "apologize about the mistake".

Common error

Avoid using "about" after "apologize". The correct preposition is "for". Saying "apologize about" is a common mistake that can undermine the sincerity of your apology.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "to apologize about" is an infinitive phrase that attempts to express the act of offering an apology. However, Ludwig AI indicates this phrase is grammatically incorrect due to the improper use of the preposition "about" instead of "for".

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

25%

Science

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "to apologize about" may appear in various sources, Ludwig AI analysis indicates it is grammatically incorrect. The correct usage is "to apologize for". This error stems from using the wrong preposition. Although the intent is clear—to express regret—it's crucial to use the grammatically correct form, especially in formal contexts. Alternatives such as ""to apologize for"", "to express regret about", or "to say sorry for" should be preferred to ensure clarity and grammatical accuracy.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

to apologize for

Replaces the incorrect preposition 'about' with the correct preposition 'for'.

to offer an apology for

More formal way of expressing the act of apologizing for something.

to express remorse for

Highlights the feeling of deep regret for something done wrong.

to express regret about

Replaces 'apologize' with 'express regret' while keeping 'about' for a slightly different nuance.

to say sorry for

Uses a more informal expression ('say sorry') with the correct preposition 'for'.

to make amends for

Replaces 'apologize' with a phrase suggesting action to correct a wrong.

to take responsibility for

Focuses on acknowledging accountability rather than explicitly apologizing.

to ask forgiveness for

Shifts the focus to seeking forgiveness for an action.

to seek pardon for

A formal way to request forgiveness.

to atone for

Implies taking action to make up for a wrongdoing.

FAQs

What is the correct preposition to use with "apologize"?

The correct preposition to use with "apologize" is "for". For example, you should say "I want to "to apologize for" my mistake" not "I want to apologize about my mistake".

What can I say instead of "to apologize about"?

You can use alternatives like ""to apologize for"", "to express regret about", or "to say sorry for" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "to apologize about" or "to apologize for"?

"To apologize for" is the correct form. "To apologize about" is grammatically incorrect.

How do I properly use "apologize" in a sentence?

Always follow "apologize" with the preposition "for" and then specify what you are apologizing for. For example: "I "apologize for" being late".