Letter: How to apologize for late reply

[alarubia]

Dear All,

I am new to the forum, and I would like to ask for your help.

Which is the most accurate way to apologize for being late in a letter?

"Sorry for being late in answering you"

or

"Sorry for my late reply"


or any other suggestion?

Thank you,

A

 

[aplomb]

Both seem correct to me.

 

[femmefee]

Welcome to the forum!
You may say:
Sorry for not replying sooner or Sorry for the delay in replying your letter, or Sorry for the long silence.

Good luck!

 

[expenseroso]

"Sorry for my late reply" sounds more natural, although both are OK.

 

[Harry Batt]

I always use "tardy." It is a word that will bring the reader back to his youthful school days. During that time the word for being late to school was "tardy." Anyone who was tardy hoped to be excused. My line is "Please excuse my tardy reply to your letter." I agree with Aplomb that your choices are correct. Tardy is also useful.

 

[cycloneviv]

I've also used: "Sorry I've taken so long to reply!"

 

[alarubia]

Thanks a lot!

A

 

[hoabongbut]

sorry for my belated reply. This is the way I often use

 

[Scribblerr]

I've always said "Please forgive me for taking so long to reply," << Response to deleted posts. >>

 

[Thomas Tompion]

It makes a lot of difference who you are writing to, and how often you are late in replying to them.

 

[remu]

As a verbivore, I always enjoyed "Sorry for my dilatory reply" or "Please forgive the dilatory nature of my reply"

 

[sumon_iird]

How about "I am sorry for this late response"? Is this also a correct sentence?

 

[EdisonBhola]

"Sorry for my late reply" sounds more natural, although both are OK.

Can I say sorry about my late reply?

 

[Juhasz]

That sounds fine to me.

 

[Phoebe1200]

Are these natural?

Please forgive the delay in my reply/response.
Sorry for the delay in my reply/response.

 

[PaulQ]

No.

"... the delay in my reply" = the delay that is contained inside my reply.

Please forgive the/my delay in my delayed/late reply/response.
[I'm] Sorry for the/my delay in my delayed/late reply/response. (Mainly informal)
I am sorry for the/my delay in my delayed/late reply/response. (Normal to formal)
[I'm] Sorry for the/my delay in replying/responding. (Mainly informal)
I am sorry for the/my delay in replying/responding. (Normal to formal)

 

[Phoebe1200]

Thank you very much for your answer, PaulQ.