Three ways of saying sorry

Today I realized that there are three things a person might mean when they say sorry.

• Oops, I am caught :( This is not exactly a sorry, they would do the same stuff again, more carefully. If this is what you mean, don't bother at all. Try explaining the reason without apologizing, if you are in the right. If someone tells this kind of sorry to you, watch out! Be careful next time.
  
• I regret doing that/not doing that. People tell this kind of sorry didn't mean to upset others. It was either unexpected or unintended or beyond their ability to deliver. The best thing to do is to let them know you understand and be supportive, and make them feel better.
  
• I am sorry, how can I compensate This is the best kind of sorry to tell, rather, to do. Do something to compensate, but, don;t focus on the compensating part. The trick is to go further than what is expected and not tell one word about the extra effort. Reminding the other person that you are doing something to compensate does not help. Instead it makes them sour and reject your compensation. And, if the compensation is not good enough don't do anything at all.
  

But, the best thing is not to put yourself in the bad spot in the first place.