Sorries

Sorries is a plural form of the word sorry, used to refer to multiple apologies, or to denote a particular style or collection of apologies. The term can be described in two main contexts: (1) everyday usage, where people say “sorries” to acknowledge a number of apologies or “multiple apologies”, and (2) in linguistics and cultural studies, where the phrase is analyzed as a social phenomenon reflecting how apology practices vary across societies.

In informal English, “sorries” functions as a casual, sometimes humoristic alternative to the standard phrase “I’m sorry.” It is often employed in written communication, such as text messages or social media posts, to convey lighthearted regret or to apologize for several actions at once. The usage is diminishing in formal contexts but remains common in North American and British English online chatter.

From a linguistic perspective, the plural form is an example of bound morpheme addition, illustrating how English allows for the creation of collective terms from single-word expressions. The word also demonstrates how adjectives derived from verbs (sorry < apologize) can be nominalized and pluralized, emphasizing the evolving nature of pragmatic markers in dialogue.

In many cultures apology customs vary dramatically. The practice of offering a “sorry” may be influenced by social hierarchy, group identity, and non‑verbal signals. Some societies stress over- apologizing as a form of humility, while others see it as unnecessary pretence. Comparative studies show that what functions as a “sorry” in one language may be replaced by a different formula of remorse or reconciliation in another.

Understanding “sorries” thus requires a mix of sociolinguistic insight and an appreciation of global norms that govern how people express regret or correct missteps.