道歉信（Apology Letter）在 IELTS General Task 1 通常是 semi-formal——錯過跟老師的會議、放鴿子房東、不小心損壞同事的東西。

語氣關鍵字：不卑不亢。寫太自責 → 顯得不專業；寫太輕描淡寫 → 顯得失禮。先看 Semi-Formal Letter 深度解析 掌握 register。

道歉信典型 bullet 結構

  1. explain why you missed/failed to do something — 為何沒去/沒做到
  2. apologise sincerely — 表達歉意
  3. suggest how to make up for it — 補救方案

考生最常忽略 bullet 3——但 bullet 3 才是 Band 7+ 加分點：表現你會解決問題，不只會說 sorry。

9 組道歉信必備句型

| 中文 | 英文 | |-----------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------| | 為...由衷致歉 | I am writing to offer my sincere apologies for... | | 我必須讓您知道 | I feel I owe you an explanation regarding... | | 萬般無奈 | due to circumstances entirely beyond my control | | 完全沒有藉口 | there is no excuse for... | | 完全理解...帶來的不便 | I fully appreciate the inconvenience this must have caused. | | 為彌補我的疏失 | To make amends for my lapse, | | 我願意 | I would like to propose... | | 再次致上深深歉意 | Once again, please accept my heartfelt apologies. | | 期待您的諒解 | I hope you will accept this gesture as a token of... |

158 字完整範文（逐段解析）

題目：Last week you missed an important meeting with your university tutor. Write a letter to apologise.

  • explain why you missed the meeting
  • apologise sincerely
  • suggest how you will make up for it

Dear Dr Wallace,

[§1 目的 — 直接道歉 + 預告解釋] I hope this finds you well. I am writing to offer my sincere apologies for missing our scheduled meeting on Tuesday afternoon, and to explain the circumstances behind my absence.

[§2 bullet 1 解釋 — 具體但不冗長] On the morning of our meeting, my younger sister was involved in a minor cycling accident on her way to school and was taken to A&E. I spent the day at the hospital with my parents, and in the rush, I genuinely forgot to send word to your office until late that evening. I fully appreciate that this is no excuse for failing to inform you in time.

[§3 bullet 2 + 3 道歉 + 補救] To make amends, I would like to propose meeting at a time that suits your schedule next week — I am free any afternoon after 2 p.m. I have also drafted the dissertation outline you requested, which I will email separately tonight.

[§4 收尾] Once again, please accept my heartfelt apologies.

Yours sincerely, Wang Cheng-yu

字數：158。三個 bullet 平均、語氣 semi-formal 穩定、最後主動補救兩件事（重新約時間 + 先把 outline 交出去）——這是高分關鍵。

台灣考生道歉信常見錯誤

錯誤 1：過度自責、卑躬屈膝

I am so so so sorry, please forgive me, I am a terrible student — 過頭。Band 7+ 道歉是 acknowledge + explain + propose，不是哀求。

錯誤 2：找太多藉口

寫五行解釋為什麼錯過——讓老師覺得你在卸責。解釋一句、道歉一句、補救兩句——重點在補救。

錯誤 3：忘了 bullet 3

只道歉沒提補救——bullet 3 直接 0 分。補救方案具體：給時段、給替代產出、給期限。

錯誤 4：semi-formal 卻用縮寫

I'm so sorry, didn't mean to — 這是 informal。對老師寫信仍要 I am, did not。

自我練習

寫一封 155 字 semi-formal 道歉信給你的房東 Ms Chen：上週你弄壞公寓陽台的曬衣架——三個 bullet：原因（鄰居小孩跑進來推倒）、道歉、補救（自費換新 + 收據附上）。

檢查表：

  • [ ] Dear Ms Chen, + Yours sincerely,
  • [ ] 解釋簡短、不卑不亢
  • [ ] 補救方案具體（多少錢、何時換、收據）
  • [ ] 至少 3 個道歉句型
  • [ ] 沒有縮寫

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