Are you really sorry?

A genuine and effective apology communicates empathy, remorse, and regret as well as a promise to learn from mistakes...but in order to communicate a sincere apology, you first have to believe you did something wrong, and feel sorry for the hurt you caused.

An apology cant undo the damage but it does show that you know your actions (or words) caused damage and that you will be aware in the future to stop it from happening again, and not apologizing can damage relationships

Know When to Apologize

Generally, if you suspect that something you did (even unintentionally) that caused hardship or emotional pain to someone, it's a good idea to apologize.

If what you did would have bothered you if it was done to you, an apology is in order. Admitting you were wrong can be difficult and humbling, but offers potential for growth and improved communication in a relationship.

Take Responsibility

Taking responsibility means acknowledging mistakes you made that hurt the other person. Saying something like, "I’m sorry if you were offended by something I said," or " I am sorry for whatever I did" implies that the hurt feelings were a random reaction on the part of the other person, and does not accept responsibility or really acknowledge that any mistake was made on your part.

Saying instead "When I said (hurtful thing) I wasn’t thinking. I realize now that I hurt your feelings, and I’m sorry" acknowledges that you know what it was that hurt the other person, and you take responsibility for it.

Don't make assumptions and don't try to shift the blame.

Make it clear that you regret your actions and that you are sincerely sorry.

Next time I will describe 5 more factors that go into making a genuine apology