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Alliete
Lv 6
Alliete asked in Education & ReferenceWords & Wordplay · 1 decade ago

Is the word sorry misused frequently?

I ask this because the other day walking down the street a young lady stumbles and almost fell down, I was just passing near her and I heard she said "Sorry". I asked myself sorry for what? Sorry to whom? To the sidewalk? My husband was putting some dishes in the dishwasher and a glass hit some plates, he suddenly said "Sorry" (sorry to the glass, the plate?). I told him not to worry because I don't think the dishwasher will feel any pain.

I know that to express politeness we say sorry to someone (not something) about any thing we did without mean it. But, has it use gone to far up to the point that now we have to say to convince others "honestly, I am really sorry". I will like to know how many times any of you being alone and making something silly you have said "Sorry".

3 Answers

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  • Mamie
    Lv 7
    1 decade ago
    Favourite answer

    You're absolutely correct that 'sorry' is used without thought. We're so conditioned to ask forgiveness for everything, that we even ask it of the dishwasher and the cement on the sidewalk. It's funny. And you're SO RIGHT!!

    Thanks. You gave me a laugh. :-)

  • dodson1005
    1 decade ago

    I agree. I think it is used all the time and a lot of the time out of place. I hear people apologize in the store when i pass by them like they were somehow in the way even if ive got 5 feet of room around them.

  • BOB
    Lv 5
    1 decade ago

    No.

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