What’s the best way to word an apology email for missing an internal deadline?

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Agreed with the above. Short. Clear. Concise. Take ownership but don’t make it a drama.

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“Thanks for your patience.”

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YAS, OC1! I recently realized this on my own when I was going to say, "I'm not going to lie," and realized how terrible that sounded. I changed it to "to be perfectly honest." This made a new wrinkle in my brain. I have been using your method since.

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With apologies for the delay, attached please find blah blah blah.

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My apologies for the delay. (Resist the urge to overexplain)

likesmart

Recently learned over explaining is perceived as dishonesty by neurotypicals. I often write a four paragraph email that turns into two sentences before it's sent...

My bad

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Preemptively, if at all possible. More important to promptly communicate status than to apologize. Agree with the above for the actual apology— short and simple without over-explaining.

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Isn’t this what chat gpt is for?

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The wording, which I think above advice covers, matters much less than the timing. Sending an email before you miss the deadline, whenever you realize you’re going to miss it, is obviously better.

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You know how super cooled -- but super pure water -- won't freeze until you agitate it -- either form a bubble or drop a spec of sand in it -- and then it freezes all at once?

Don't let anything ever become that agitation. "Thank you for your patience." If you add apologies or any sign of weakness -- they might take the whole day's frustrations on you all at once.

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Pick up the phone

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Yup. And as others have said, the contact needs to happen WELL in advance of the deadline (exceptions permitted if you’ve been incarcerated or in a coma).

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A phone call with a clear and firm delivery timeline. I don’t like apology emails. My inbox is too full. If it’s an email, it better be the assignment.

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It may feel natural as a guy to say “my bad” to the cool partners that you are close with when you make a mistake, but that pisses them off (even if a minor mistake). Always say my apologies - goes a long way

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I don’t apologize unless I’m very late

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If in advance, warn and apologize. If after the fact, take responsibility, apologize, and say you will communicate better next time. Don’t come across as making excuses or not taking full responsibility.

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Forgive me I

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Agree on the early warning. How you word it depends on what the ramifications of the missed deadline were. If there was a negative impact, it’s imperative to identify it and to offer to do what you can to fix it.

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Start looking for another job

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Don’t apologize. It’s a sign of weakness.

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I do hope you're joking.

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Apologies for the delay

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“Honey I’m sorry but how am I supposed to know it’s been 20 years? It’s felt like 40.”

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