Apologize For Doing vs. Apologize To Do
Cambridge distinguishes “apologize to someone” from “apologize for something/doing something.” You can combine the two roles, as in “apologize to someone for doing something”; “to” marks the recipient while “for” marks the reason.
Use “apologize for doing” to state the action you are sorry about. Use “apologize to” for the person receiving the apology, not as a to-infinitive alternative.
Key details
Choose the right form
| Role | Construction | Question answered |
|---|---|---|
| reason/action regretted | apologize for + noun/-ing | What are you sorry for? |
| recipient | apologize to + person | Who receives the apology? |
| recipient + reason | apologize to + person + for + -ing | combines both roles |
Quick tests
Role test
Are you naming the action that caused the apology?
If yes: Use “apologize for + -ing.”
If no: If you are naming the recipient, use “apologize to + person”; combine the two when both are needed.
Caveat: The “to” in “apologize to someone” marks the recipient. It is not a direct to-infinitive alternative to “apologize for doing.”
Examples
I apologize for missing the deadline.
The -ing clause names the reason for the apology.
I apologized to the client for sending the wrong file.
“To” marks the recipient and “for” marks the reason.
I apologized to miss the deadline.
Better: I apologized for missing the deadline.
This does not use the reviewed complement for the reason.
Further guidance
Boundary
You can combine the two roles, as in “apologize to someone for doing something”; “to” marks the recipient while “for” marks the reason.
Construction
Cambridge distinguishes “apologize to someone” from “apologize for something/doing something.”
Decision
Use “apologize for doing” to state the action you are sorry about. Use “apologize to” for the person receiving the apology, not as a to-infinitive alternative.
Sources and evidence
Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.
- Word patterns: apologize to someone — Cambridge Grammar (opens in a new tab)Cambridge Dictionary · Apologize for something/doing something gives the reason for the apology; apologize to introduces the recipient.