“I’m sorry, I was wrong” is six words. Say all six. No “but” tacked on the end.

A clean apology is rare because the word but is so tempting at the end of it. The moment it arrives, everything before it gets deleted and what the other person hears is a defense wearing an apology’s clothes. Owning the thing completely costs you about two seconds of pride. It is also the only version that actually repairs anything.

The next time you owe one, say it and then stop talking. If there is context they genuinely need, give it another day, not the same breath.