3 days ago
The only time a ‘sorry' expresses true regret
Academics have found that Britons use the word "sorry" in as many as 15 different ways.
Only one of these uses expresses true regret, which is when someone is genuinely sorry to hear another person's bad news.
The term "sorry" is frequently employed as a social lubricant, for politeness, or to ease awkward situations, rather than as a literal apology.
This unique multifunctionality of "sorry" can cause confusion for foreigners who might assume a genuine apology is being made.
A previous survey suggested Britons say "sorry" on average up to nine times a day.
