英文定義是something that you write to show that you are sorry for doing something wrong。 通過定義大家可以看出， 道歉信就是表達你對所犯的錯誤的歉意。它的特點是： 首先提及對方的來信，然後主段首句表示歉意並立即解釋原因。通常在結束前根據情況可能再次表達歉意。
【常用套話】
表達歉意
I am very sorry for ...
We are very/extremely sorry to learn that...
I/We must apologies for...(the delay in replying to your letter).
I/We sincerely apologies for...(not replying to your letter).
I wish to offer my sincere apologies for...
Please accept our apologies for ...(the inconvenience this error has caused you).
表明錯誤原因
This is due to...
(This/The move to a new office)... has resulted in ...
The mistake was made because...
表示保證採取何種措施或彌補手段
I/We can assure you that...
【示例】
因爲延誤而表示歉意
Dear Sir or Madam,
Thank you for letter of 5 May 2004.
I must apologies for the delay in replying to your letter of 15 April. Unfortunately some members of our staff have recently been off sick. This, at a time when several of our employees take their annual leave, has resulted in unavoidable delays in replying to letters.
I enclose the price list of our company as requested and look forward to hearing from you.
Your sincerely
(邀請您2004年5月5日的來信。我必須爲延遲迴復您4月15日的來信而表示歉意。不幸的是我們一部分員工最近生病，而與此同時一部分員工正在休年假，這一切導致了不可避免地延誤回覆您的來信。我隨此信附上您索要的我們公司的價目表。期望您的來函。)
Dear Mr. Harrison,
Thank you for your telephone call of 18 May 2004.
I am extremely sorry for the delay in sending the sample shirt to you. It was late because David Murray, our Production Manager, has been sick for three weeks. The sample, is now on its way and you should get the sample within three days.
I apologies again for the delay and I hope the sample will meet with your satisfaction.
Your sincerely
(感謝您2004年5月18日的來信。非常抱歉沒有及時給您寄送襯衫樣品。延誤寄送樣品是因爲我們的生產經理戴維 莫瑞病了三週。襯衫樣品現在正在路上，您應該能在三日內收到。我爲你您帶來的'不便再次表示抱歉。希望我們的樣品能令您滿意。)
Dear Mr. Johnson
Thank you very much for your letter of 3 May 2004.
We wish to offer our sincere apologies for the long delay in replying to your letter. We have recently moved our headquarters to a new location in the south of city and this has resulted in some considerable delay in replying to enquiries. The move has now been completed and I can assure you that there will be no more delays in the future.
The catalogue you require are enclosed and I hope that you will continue to use us as your main supplier.
Your sincerely
(非常感謝您2004年5月3日的來信。 我們爲延誤很長時間回覆您的信件表示真誠的歉意。我們最近把公司總部搬到位於城市南部的一個新地方。這導致了大量回復詢問信函的延誤。現在搬家已經結束並且我可以向您保證今後不再會有延誤。我隨信附上您要的目錄。我希望您繼續把我們作爲您的主要供應商。)
因爲過錯而表示歉意
Dear Mr. Grison
Thank you for your letter of 6 May 2004 concerning the faulty tableware.
I am extremely sorry to learn that the delivery you took on 2 April was of poor quality. This was due to our faulty packing machine. We now have it repaired and we will replace the faulty delivery free of charge within three days.
We have been supplying you for five years and we will replace the faulty delivery free of charge within three days.
We have been supplying you for five years and you have always been one of our excellent customers. Therefore, I greatly regret the inconvenience it has caused and would like to offer my sincere apologies. I can assure you that such occasion will not occur and our supplies in the future will again be of our usual high standards.
I hope that you can use our company as your supplier in the future.
Your sincerely
(感謝您2004年5月6日關於破損餐具的來信。獲悉4月2日您收到的餐具質量極差我非常抱歉。這主要是因爲我們的包裝機出現了故障。我們現在已經修好了機器，並且我們將會在三日內免費把替代品發送過去。我們作爲您的供應商已經5年了，並且您一直是我們的優秀客戶之一。因此，我們爲給您帶來的不便表示真誠的歉意。我向您保證這種情況不會再次發生，並且我們將來的產品還會是我們一貫的高水準。我希望您在將來還能夠把我們公司作爲您的供應商。)
Dear Mr. Sation
With reference to your letter dated 3rd May 2004, I am writing to apologies for the mistake we made.
The mistake was made because our computer broke down on 29 April. I can assure you we will send the cheque of $200 to you in two days. We will offer you 20% discount for you next stay.
