No matter where you work or what you do, you’re eventually going to have to apologize to someone for something. That’s a fact of life. In a workplace filled with humans, you will invariably run into a variety of situations where feelings get hurt. As it’s not really feasible—or mature—to take a duck-and-cover approach when things get heated at the office, you need to be equipped with the right words to tactfully address less-than-comfortable situations.

In order for an apology to be effective, it needs to be done right. Experts agree that the best ones include acknowledgment and understanding of what happened and the damage done. You should also recognize your role, take responsibility for it, and communicate regret. What you should omit are any justifications and the words “if” or “but.” So, “I’m sorry if I hurt your feelings during the meeting,” or “I’m sorry we made an error but you knew…