Apologize or Apologise: Which Is Correct?

Updated 2026-10-03 · Which One Is Correct editorial team

Quick answer: Both spellings are correct, but they belong to different English traditions. You should use apologize when writing for an American audience. Switch to apologise only if you are targeting readers in the United Kingdom, Australia, or other Commonwealth nations.

The Short Answer

Apologize is the standard American spelling, while apologise is the preferred British form. Both words carry the exact same meaning and grammatical function.

People often confuse them because they sound identical and share the same Greek roots. The difference comes down to regional spelling conventions rather than any change in definition or usage.

Side-by-Side Comparison

Form	Status	Use it when
apologize	American English	Writing for US audiences
apologise	British English	Writing for UK or Australian audiences
verb	Part of Speech	Expressing regret for an action
apology	Noun Form	Discussing the act of saying sorry

Correct Example Sentences

I need to apologize for being late to the meeting yesterday.
Please accept my sincere apology for the misunderstanding regarding the order.
Should I apologize to him directly or send a message instead?
She refused to apologise for her comments during the team discussion.
The manager decided to apologize publicly for the service outage.
Do you think he will apologise for forgetting our anniversary?
I wrote a letter to apologize for the inconvenience caused by the delay.
They asked us to apologise for the noise during the early morning hours.
It is important to apologize when you have hurt someone's feelings.
Would you like to apologise in person or over the phone?

Common Mistakes and Fixes

I want to apologise to you for the mistake.: I want to apologize to you for the mistake.
He needs to apologize for his rude behavior.: He needs to apologise for his rude behavior.
We should apologise for the delay in shipping.: We should apologize for the delay in shipping.
She did not apologize for interrupting the conversation.: She did not apologise for interrupting the conversation.
I must apologize for forgetting your birthday.: I must apologise for forgetting your birthday.
They refused to apologise for the error in the report.: They refused to apologize for the error in the report.

A Quick Test You Can Use

Check your target audience's location before you type the final letter. If your readers are in the United States, stick with the z version. If your readers are in Britain or Australia, choose the s version to match their local standards.

Related Word Pairs

analyze vs analyse: Use analyze for American English and analyse for British English.
organize vs organise: Use organize for American English and organise for British English.
realize vs realise: Use realize for American English and realise for British English.
recognize vs recognise: Use recognize for American English and recognise for British English.
minimize vs minimise: Use minimize for American English and minimise for British English.

More Example Sentences

The politician decided to apologize for the controversial remarks made during the debate.
Please accept my apology for the slight delay in your delivery.
We need to apologize to our neighbors for the loud party last night.
It is not enough to say sorry; you must apologize with genuine intent.
Did you remember to apologize for canceling the appointment at the last minute?
The company issued a statement to apologize for the data breach.
I will apologize to my sister for breaking her favorite vase.
Teachers often ask students to apologize for cheating on the test.
He struggled to apologize because he believed he was right.
You should apologize if you accidentally bump into someone on the sidewalk.

Quick Practice

You should to your boss for missing the deadline.

apologize

The British letter used the word to end the formal note.

apologise

I failed to for the error in my calculation.

apologize

She decided to directly to the team members involved.

apologise

Never forget to when you make a mistake.

apologize

The email contained a sincere for the confusion.

apology

Frequently Asked Questions

Is apologize a verb or a noun?

Apologize is a verb that describes the action of expressing regret. The noun form of the word is apology, which refers to the statement itself.

Can I mix apologize and apologise in one document?

You should avoid mixing them in a single document to maintain consistency. Choose the spelling that matches your primary audience and stick with it throughout the entire text.

Is there a difference in meaning between the two?

There is absolutely no difference in meaning. Both spellings refer to the exact same action of saying sorry. The only distinction is the regional spelling convention used.

Which spelling is more common worldwide?

The spelling with the letter z is becoming more common globally due to the influence of American media and technology. However, traditional British spelling remains standard in many Commonwealth countries.