Emojis can’t carry an apology. Use real words for the big stuff.

A small yellow face cannot do the work of an apology. What makes one land is naming specifically what you did, and a symbol hands that job to the other person, who now has to decide what you meant, which is unfair when they are the one who got hurt. It can read as hoping the matter is closed.

Use sentences for the big things, with the thing you did inside them. Keep the symbols for warmth, jokes and quick confirmations, where they work well. If you cannot find the words, say that out loud and keep going anyway.