Sometimes we might find ourselves making a mistake or hurting others, despite our best intentions. This is part of being human, but what matters is our ability to make amends for these mistakes and apologize to the people we’ve hurt. You can do this in many ways, from saying, showing, or writing. This all depends on the context or how you most feel comfortable. If you do decide to write an apology letter, there are things you can do to help get your point across.

Acknowledge Your Mistake

The first thing you should mention in your letter is what you are apologizing for. You must get right to the point when you apologize, otherwise it loses a lot of its meaning. Use your first paragraph to explain what you want to say and what you believe you’ve done wrong. Doing this at the start makes your point clear and shows your sincerity.

Understand the Consequences of Your Actions

Saying you’re wrong is the first step, but there are other things you must say. The second thing is that you must understand your actions have consequences. Whatever you did might have hurt someone and there will be a punishment or consequence. Take the time to acknowledge both, mentioning the person you hurt and addressing them directly. At the same time, say that you are ready to accept whatever consequences come your way. This shows that you are truly willing to make amends for your wrongdoing.

Don’t Try to Justify Your Action

You might feel compelled to explain yourself and add context when apologizing, but try your best to avoid this. An apology is a time to fix things and it might be inappropriate for you to try and explain your actions while doing that. It can seem like you are downplaying what you did. Just say you are sorry and leave it at that. If the person you apologize to asks you about it, then you can explain yourself.

Offer A Solution

You can show how seriously you take this problem by offering a solution. This shows that you are willing to do your part in fixing the problem and that your words aren’t empty. It doesn’t need to be anything big and you shouldn’t expect forgiveness, but it is a good start to moving forward. It’s best to leave this at the end of the letter after you’ve given a proper apology.

Don’t Expect Forgiveness

Just because you apologize, doesn’t mean the other person will forgive you. No one is entitled to forgiveness and if your actions hurt someone bad enough, they might not feel comfortable being with you. Don’t hold that against them or become bitter. You should address that in your letter and mention that you will work to earn back their trust. At the very least it shows that you empathize with their feelings.

If you want to create vintage letters with your own or other people’s famous lines, our Vintage Letter service allows you to make and send them here.