I'm afraid vs I'm sorry (2024)

B

Brave Heart

Senior Member

Japan, Japanese

  • Aug 25, 2007
  • #1

Hi all,

Is my understanding correct that there's little difference between "

I'm afraid

he's away from his desk right now" and "

I'm sorry,

he's away from his desk right now"?

At the same time, however, I wonder if "I'm afraid" might be slightly more formal than "I'm sorry,". What do you think about it?

Thanks. I'm afraid vs I'm sorry (1)

  • tinlizzy

    Senior Member

    Iowa

    USA - English

    • Aug 25, 2007
    • #2

    "I'm afraid I may have offended you. I'm sorry."

    Both are polite expressions. I would not say that I'm afraid is formal.
    I'm afraid assumes that there will be sorrow after... whatever statement is about to be spoken/written.

    P.S. I'm afraid assumes there will be an emotional response from the other person/persons listening or reading. The phrase almost prepares the listener for what is about to be said or cautions the listener that you are indeed afraid of their response when it's said at the end of the sentence. Others will answer more succinctly.

    nichec

    Senior Member

    Chinese(Taiwan)

    • Aug 25, 2007
    • #3

    Brave Heart said:

    Hi all,

    Is my understanding correct that there's little difference between "

    I'm afraid

    he's away from his desk right now" and "

    I'm sorry,

    he's away from his desk right now"?

    At the same time, however, I wonder if "I'm afraid" might be slightly more formal than "I'm sorry,". What do you think about it?

    Thanks. I'm afraid vs I'm sorry (4)

    Hmmmmmm...."I am afraid" sounds sometimes like an "official statement" to me, just like "no comment".....

    --I am afraid there's nothing much we can do for you.
    (I don't care how you feel or what you are going to do, I can't do anything more, and that's it)

    While "I am sorry" may be a bit more "human".....

    --I am sorry for your lost (or loss, if you must).
    (I know it must be painful, and I am sorry about that)

    tinlizzy

    Senior Member

    Iowa

    USA - English

    • Aug 25, 2007
    • #4

    nichec said:

    Hmmmmmm...."I am afraid" sounds sometimes like an "official statement" to me

    I agree. It does sound like that a lot of the time. But I'll give gentle examples for Brave Heart:

    "Honey, I'm afraid we can't go to the park today because it's raining."
    "Could I have milk for my coffee, please? I'm afraid that we are out of milk."
    Disappointment would be the emotion.

    It's used often to actually soften news.
    "I'm afraid to tell you that your sister has been in a terrible car accident."

    How about...."I'm afraid"- it doesn't really matter to me but it might matter to you. Nichec is this what you meant?

    Last edited by a moderator:

    F

    Forero

    Senior Member

    Maumelle, Arkansas, USA

    USA English

    • Aug 25, 2007
    • #5

    People who answer telephones often will of necessity develop fixed formulas for the sake of politeness or just to prepare the caller for what might be unexpected. Both "I'm sorry" and "I'm afraid" are common in this context.

    But the phrases "I'm sorry" and "I'm afraid" can still be used more personally too.

    In a personal conversation, "I'm sorry" is a short way to say that I regret the disappointment or inconvenience.

    Your "I'm sorry" sentence is actually two sentences, but the comma is used to show a slight rise in the voice indicating that a little explanation follows.

    "I'm sorry (that)" in the same sentence would be apologizing for the specific thing (that right now he is away from his desk), whereas "I'm sorry" as a separate sentence expresses more general regrets, for example that you should have to call back so many times, that you have to call back at an inconvenient time, or that you may miss a deadline because he is unavailable.

    "I'm afraid (that)" in the same sentence could be used several different ways. For example, it could mean that I am not sure he is away:

    "I'm afraid he is away from his desk right now. Please hold while I check."

    Or it could mean that I feel a real opportunity may be missed or that I have a personal interest in connecting you and him or, as tinlizzy suggests, that I know you have an emotional interest in speaking with him.

    If I were to say one was more formal, I would pick "I'm sorry" over "I'm afraid" because it shows less emotion and looks more like something a person would put in writing. The most formal would be "Our firm regrets (to inform you) that he is no longer employed by this office."

    B

    Brave Heart

    Senior Member

    Japan, Japanese

    • Aug 26, 2007
    • #6

    Thanks guys. I appreciate your help. I'm afraid vs I'm sorry (6)

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