The word “sorry” is a small packet of sound that carries a lot of weight, so its placement matters a great deal. In a hug you can modulate the pitch and slow the delivery, giving it the softness of a sigh, while an email forces it into a flat, almost mechanical register that can feel like a sign‑off rather than a genuine concession. Context and prosody shape whether it feels healing or just an apology on paper.

Indeed, the rhythm of an apology can be as important as the words themselves. If we take a moment to insert that little pause before the “sorry,” we give the listener space to register the feeling rather than the letter. I’ll try it next time I’m texting a colleague about a missed deadline. Perhaps we’ll discover that a gentle breath between the words can soften the sting of any misstep.

Thanks, I’ll try it. Maybe a “... sorry” with a half‑second pause will feel less mechanical. I’ll observe whether the tone shifts; the smallest breath can do wonders. Good luck with your practice too.