Do you want to apologize to someone for being an inconvenience?
However, you’re worried that “sorry for wasting your time” might not be the most appropriate phrase in formal writing.
Well, this article is here to help you.
We’ll show you how to apologize for wasting someone’s time professionally to help you in different contexts.
Is It Unprofessional to Say “Sorry for Wasting Your Time”?
It is not unprofessional to say “sorry for wasting your time.”
It’s not rude, either. In fact, it’s a great phrase that shows you’re really sorry for taking time out of someone’s day to inconvenience them when it could have been avoided.
Most recipients will be happy to receive a message like this from you. It’s professional and polite.
Also, this email sample should clear some things up for you:
Dear Miss Westham,
It’s clear that this situation is resolved and no longer requires anything more from you.
I’m so sorry for wasting your time.
All the best,
Juliette Barrow
Pros
- It’s professional and sincere.
- It shows you’re genuinely sorry for inconveniencing or interrupting someone.
Cons
- It’s a bit forced.
- It can sound quite repetitive.
Of course, there’s nothing wrong with writing “sorry for wasting your time” formally. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t explore some alternatives to see what else might work.
Keep reading to learn how to say “sorry for wasting your time” professionally. We’ve compiled a list of the best synonyms to show you what might work.
What to Say Instead of “Sorry for Wasting Your Time”
- I apologize for the time expended
- I’m sorry this took so much time
- I did not intend to waste your time
- I realize that I used your time inefficiently
- I’m sorry for the unintentional time drain
- I certainly hope this didn’t waste too much of your time
- Forgive me for wasting your time
- I hope you don’t mind me wasting your time
- I apologize for the time lost to this
1. I Apologize for the Time Expended
It’s worth starting with “I apologize for the time expended” as another way to say “sorry for wasting your time.”
It works really well when engaging the recipient. It remains formal and sincere, showing that you appreciate you may have wasted their time but didn’t mean for that to happen.
Generally, this will work best when contacting a business partner.
After all, you can use it to show them that you regret taking as much of their time as you did.
We recommend referring to this email sample to learn a bit more about it:
Dear Miss Hills,
I apologize for the time expended discussing these changes.
Now that they’re not going ahead, I feel we must discuss something else.
Best regards,
Danny Catford
2. I’m Sorry This Took So Much Time
We also recommend using “I’m sorry this took so much time.” This is a better way to say “sorry for wasting your time” if you want to appeal to someone’s emotions.
It’s still formal and polite. But it also allows you to reach out in a more friendly manner to show someone how much you regret taking up their time.
So, feel free to use this when contacting your boss. It’s a great way to let them know that you didn’t mean to take up their time and will do better in the future.
For the most part, your boss will appreciate you saying something like this. Therefore, we recommend it when you want to bolster your relationship with them.
You can also check out this sample email to learn more:
Dear Harold,
I’m sorry this took so much time to figure out.
I’m sure we didn’t have to use it all, but I’m glad we finally settled on a solution.
All the best,
Sarah Morrison
3. I Did Not Intend to Waste Your Time
You should also try writing “I did not intend to waste your time.” It works well because it keeps things civil and polite.
Using “I did not intend” shows that you surprised yourself as well as the recipient. So, it implies that you did not mean to take up as much of someone’s time as you did.
For the most part, this can work wonders when apologizing to clients.
It’s an effective choice if you’re trying to apologize on behalf of your company. That way, you can try to keep clients happy and ensure they don’t leave your business.
This email sample will also help you if you need to figure out more:
Dear Ms. North,
It’s clear that the file I attached in the previous email was incorrect.
I did not intend to waste your time with this misinformation.
Best wishes,
Sam Rice
4. I Realize That I Used Your Time Inefficiently
Try “I realize that I used your time inefficiently” as a polite way to say “sorry for wasting your time.”
It’s respectful and sincere. So, it goes a long way when apologizing to someone who usually has a busy schedule.
After all, it suggests that you didn’t mean to take them away from their daily duties or important tasks.
This works wonders when emailing your boss. If you want to keep a more formal conversation going with them, something like this should do the trick.
So, you can check out this example to learn more:
Dear Ms. Murray,
I realize that I used your time inefficiently by discussing this.
I’ll be sure to discuss it with my supervisor instead to cause you less problems.
All the best,
Steve Thompson
5. I’m Sorry for the Unintentional Time Drain
For a professional way to say “sorry for wasting your time,” try “I’m sorry for the unintentional time drain.”
Generally, this helps you to stay formal and sincere. So, it’s a good opportunity to let someone know that you really didn’t mean to waste their time.
Try it when contacting a recruiter. If you applied for the wrong job or realized it wasn’t the right fit for you, this is a good way to apologize for causing them to waste time on you.
You can also review this sample email to help you understand it:
Dear Ms. Bowers,
I’m sorry for the unintentional time drain caused by this.
I hope we can look past this, and I’ll be in touch again if I find something more suitable.
Yours,
Craig Hall
6. I Certainly Hope This Didn’t Waste Too Much of Your Time
Next, you might benefit from writing “I certainly hope this didn’t waste too much of your time.”
When you’re unsure if you’ve wasted someone’s time, you can use this phrase. After all, it’s polite and honest.
It shows that it was never your intention to keep someone for a long time. However, sometimes, you can’t avoid doing that when you need someone’s attention.
This email sample will also help you to understand it a bit better:
Dear Maria,
I clearly got the wrong information, and I’ll look into it further to see what else I can learn.
I certainly hope this didn’t waste too much of your time.
Best regards,
Don Simone
7. Forgive Me for Wasting Your Time
Feel free to write “forgive me for wasting your time” to help you mix things up.
Generally, you can use this when writing to a client. It lets them know you respect their schedule and don’t want to do anything that might cause them to fall behind.
For the most part, it’ll help you to build a strong working relationship with a new client. That’s why we recommend using something like this when it’s still early messaging a new client.
Feel free to check out this example to learn a bit more too:
Dear Miss Wolsey,
I hope you don’t mind, but I’ve resent the original file, as the first one contained multiple errors.
Forgive me for wasting your time.
Yours,
Stacey King
8. I Hope You Don’t Mind Me Wasting Your Time
Try using “I hope you don’t mind me wasting your time.” It’s a direct and honest apology to use once you realize you’ve made a mistake with something.
Generally, you can use it when saying sorry to an employee. It shows that you’ve spotted a mistake or error with something that might have caused them to waste some time.
Here’s a helpful email sample to show you a bit more about how it works:
Dear Jessica,
It’s clear that this wasn’t meant for you, and I’m sorry you had to see it.
I hope you don’t mind me wasting your time.
All the best,
Dan Frank
9. I Apologize for the Time Lost to This
Finally, it’s worth using “I apologize for the time lost to this.” It’s a formal way to say “sorry for wasting your time” that shows you’re happy owning up to your mistake.
Generally, you can use this when apologizing to a business partner.
If you made a clear mistake, this is a good way to apologize and show you respect them enough to take it back.
This email example will also help you to understand it a bit better:
Dear Ms. Grace,
I apologize for the time lost to this misstep on my part.
I’ll make sure I do what’s necessary to avoid this happening again.
All the best,
Jack Curtis