TL;DR Stop saying 'Sorry'. Start saying 'I appologize for'

If it sounds weird to say "I apologize for _____" then it isn't worth apologizing for

We seem to have some obsession with telling people that we're 'sorry' nowadays. I see more and more of my friends responding to any little thing, even completely irrelevant encounters, with 'sorry'.

Saying 'sorry' is you apologizing for something you did, and I can guarantee you know someone who apologizes for loads of things that they definitely don't need to apologize for.

This is where the super simple tactic of "I apologize for _____" comes in.

In the future, instead of telling people that you're 'sorry' for things, issue a formal apology.

"I apologize for being late/dropping something/actually fucking something up"

Not only does this hold more weight to people that you apologize to, but it will keep you from apologizing for things you have no reason to apologize for.

You're walking down the sidewalk on the right side, and someone slightly rubs past you because it's crowded? So many people would just casually slip out an 'I'm sorry', whereas you will say nothing. Why are you apologizing for being where you were? Shit happens, it isn't either of your faults most likely.

Are you going to say "I apologize for almost bumping into you" out loud to a stranger just walking past? Probably not, that sounds ridiculous, which is why people say "sorry" all of the time. Each time you say sorry, you are essentially apologizing for something, most likely unimportant and inane.

Stop training yourself to be at blame for things that are inconsequential, apologize for the things that matter, and your apologies will carry a lot more weight.