'I'm sorry + naming the offence': a format for apologizing

The present paper focuses on ‘I’m sorry + naming the offense’-formatted apologies occurring in phone calls in English. Apologies of this kind ‘emerge’ and are oriented to as relevant actions when addressing an apologisable that is not the main business in ongoing talk. The sequential analysis of apologies and responses to apologies suggests that the format ‘I’m sorry + naming the offense’ relates to either minimal/potential offenses or even no offenses, i.e. actions for which the apologiser’s accountability is not visibly at stake. Therefore, the format thus identified seems to accomplish actions other than (just) apologising, such as expressing regret or minimising a compliment, ultimately being a fruitful resource to reinforce social solidarity.