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A better word than 'apologise'?

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winterwhite Thu 18-Jun-26 10:49:28

This is prompted by hearing that Bridget Phillipson is to apologise to the victims of forced adoption in the 1940s-70s, but this use of apologise has given me pause for thought before.

IMO apologising is admitting some degree of personal responsibility or involvement which I don't think can be passed on or inherited.

So it seems inappropriate, even a bit glib, for politicians to be apologising for things that happened before they were born. It must be possible to find a form of words expressing deep regret at what happened and sounding sincere.

I'm not sure that victim is the right word either but less easy to think of an alternative.

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Padstow13 Thu 25-Jun-26 04:23:29

OldFrill

You think those that have campaigned for so long for this apology should just have been ignored the Sago?

But these 'hand-wringing' words are devoid of sincerity and therefore meaningless. Just a few standard-form phrases to satisfy public relations requirements.

But as soon as the prospect of financial recompense arises then the gloves are off and victims are treated to the raw hostility behind the so-called 'profound and sincere' apologies.

Example: the Postmasters scandal, dragging on and on and on.

Words are dirt cheap. And Paula Vennell's and her ilk are more concerned with saving face above all else. So that renders apologies meaningless.

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Sago Thu 25-Jun-26 06:45:38

Padstow13

OldFrill

You think those that have campaigned for so long for this apology should just have been ignored the Sago?

But these 'hand-wringing' words are devoid of sincerity and therefore meaningless. Just a few standard-form phrases to satisfy public relations requirements.

But as soon as the prospect of financial recompense arises then the gloves are off and victims are treated to the raw hostility behind the so-called 'profound and sincere' apologies.

Example: the Postmasters scandal, dragging on and on and on.

Words are dirt cheap. And Paula Vennell's and her ilk are more concerned with saving face above all else. So that renders apologies meaningless.

Paula Vennells should have served a prison sentence.

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