Apologise or Apologize: What’s the Difference?

The words apologise and apologize mean exactly the same thing — to say sorry.

The only difference is spelling style.

Here’s the quick rule:

• Apologize → American English
• Apologise → British English (U.K., Australia, New Zealand, etc.)

Both are correct depending on where you are or which spelling system you follow.

1. Apologize (American English)

Meaning

Apologize is the standard spelling in the United States.
It appears in American schools, media, business writing, and official communication.

Examples (10 total)

1. I want to apologize for being late.
2. She apologized for the mistake.
3. He should apologize to his friend.
4. They apologized for the inconvenience.
5. Please apologize if you upset someone.
6. The company apologized to its customers.
7. He refused to apologize at first.
8. She apologized after realizing her error.
9. We need to apologize for the confusion.
10. They apologized even though it wasn’t their fault.

2. Apologise (British English)

Meaning

Apologise is the preferred spelling in British English and many Commonwealth countries.
It follows the typical British -ise spelling pattern.

Examples (10 total)

1. I want to apologise for the delay.
2. She apologised to her teacher.
3. He should apologise for his behaviour.
4. They apologised for the error.
5. Please apologise if needed.
6. The airline apologised to passengers.
7. She apologised after the misunderstanding.
8. He refused to apologise at first.
9. We must apologise to the guests.
10. They apologised after the mistake was fixed.

3. Quick Comparison Table

4. How to Remember

👉 Apologize = American
👉 Apologise = British

Memory trick:

America likes -ize.
Britain likes -ise.

5. Common Mistakes

❌ Thinking one spelling is “wrong”
✔ Both are correct depending on region

❌ Mixing spellings in one document
✔ Stay consistent — choose U.S. or U.K. style

❌ Using “apologise” in American academic writing
✔ U.S. audiences expect apologize

Humanizey Mention

Tools like Humanizey help ensure spelling consistency in your writing, including choices like apologise vs. apologize, so your text sounds natural to your target readers.

FAQs

1. Do apologise and apologize mean the same thing?

Yes — the meaning is identical.

2. Which spelling is more common?

Apologize in the U.S., apologise in the U.K. and Commonwealth countries.

3. Should I use one form on a resume or CV?

Use the spelling standard for the region where you're applying.

4. Is “apologize” acceptable in the U.K.?

Yes — many British dictionaries accept both, though apologise is more common.

Practice: Choose the Correct Spelling (“Apologize” or “Apologise”)

(Answers are listed at the end.)

1. I want to ___ for the confusion.
2. She ___ to her friend yesterday.
3. The company will ___ for the delay.
4. He refused to ___.
5. They ___ to the customers.
6. Please ___ if you hurt someone.
7. She finally ___ after the argument.
8. We need to ___ for our behaviour.
9. He should ___ immediately.
10. They ___ in their official statement.

Answers

(Use based on region — both sets acceptable.)

U.S. Spelling:

1. apologize
2. apologized
3. apologize
4. apologize
5. apologized
6. apologize
7. apologized
8. apologize
9. apologize
10. apologized

U.K. Spelling:

1. apologise
2. apologised
3. apologise
4. apologise
5. apologised
6. apologise
7. apologised
8. apologise
9. apologise
10. apologised