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admission of guilt letter sample
#1

Apology letter basics

An apology is a statement of regret and sorrow for wronging someone. An apology letter is simply a written apology in the form of a letter.

To be of much use an apology letter needs to elaborate on the situation. While not necessarily lengthy, it should spell out the offense and explain why it occurred.

Very importantly, the letter should contain an admission of responsibility and a promise not to repeat the mistake. It should also show contrition, ask for forgiveness, and, if appropriate, include recompense.

Generally a letter is not needed for a minor faux pas, but rather for something major. Of course, what seems harmless to one person could be earth-shattering to someone else.

Should you write one?

Before starting a letter you should ask yourself whether writing and sending one is the best approach available to you. There are other ways to handle a mistake:

Essentially ignore it
Verbally apologize in passing
Send an "I'm Sorry" card with with little or no elaboration
Meet with the offended party and cover the situation face-to-face
Unless a letter accomplishes more than the alternatives there is little need to send one. Of course, a letter can serve as prelude to meeting one-on-one, and it may be your only choice if you cannot apologize in person.

It is also worth noting that writing a letter can be useful even if you do not intend to send it. This is because the writing process forces you to reflect and helps you adjust to the realities and consequences of what you have done. The worse your mistake, the more benefit there is to this.

Finally, keep in mind that you should refrain from sending someone a letter if you are concerned about legal consequences. In some situations your letter could amount to a confession of guilt or an acceptance of liability.

Apology letter dynamics

If a letter of apology is needed, a serious wrong has occurred. A letter offers you the chance to correct the problem, so don't waste your opportunity. To this end, try to make your letter as effective as possible by systematically exploring the dynamics involved.

What's in it for the recipient?

As a rule the recipient is looking for three things. First, he wants contrition, which has value as emotional payback. In other words, he feels pain from what you have done and he wants you to feel some too. The recipient knows apologizing is painful. So by apologizing, you help balance the scale, at least emotionally.

Second, the recipient may expect material payback. If your misdeed caused financial injury, it is only fair that you compensate for losses. Even if money is not involved, it may well be appropriate to give a gift of some kind. This is especially true when your penitence alone does not outweigh the grief you have caused.

Third, the recipient is very much looking for signs that you will not repeat your mistake. To demonstrate that you will do better, your letter should show:

You know that what was done was wrong
You believe it was your fault
You understand why you did it
You have a concrete plan that will prevent it from happening again
You are committed to making your plan happen
What's in it for you?

Whenever someone writes an apology letter they write it in their own self-interest. Whether it's alleviating guilt, salvaging a relationship, keeping a job, or staying out of jail, definite benefits accrue to the writer. Don't kid yourself about this.

To write a letter that maximizes the benefit to both you and your recipient:

Be honest with yourself about what you hope to gain, no matter what it might be
Understand your recipient's goals and the fact that they deserve to be met; resolve to meet them
Realize that your letter is ultimately an act of trading (for example, trading remorse for guilt relief)
Try to create a fair trade. If you give too much, you will feel resentful. If you give too little, your letter will not accomplish what you hope.
There are other reasons for approaching your letter in this practical manner. It forces you to take an objective look at what you did and the hurt you caused. It makes it less likely you will over promise and as a result not deliver. Finally, it makes your letter more honest and therefore more believable.

Writing your letter

Because apology letters are personal, they should be heartfelt and plain-spoken, not subdued or muddled by corporate speak. Nevertheless, they should also be organized, easy to read and logical.

Format

While letters of apology do not lend themselves to rigid structure, most include:

A recap of the misdeed
An admission of guilt
An explanation for why the offense occurred
A statement of remorse
Reasons why the wrongdoing will not happen again
A request of the recipient (for example, for forgiveness)
These items do not fall in a formal order, and sometimes not all are needed.

Letter length can vary dramatically. Depending on the circumstances, a good letter may need from a couple of hundred words up to a thousand or more.

Tips

Be sincere. Your letter should reflect your personality and writing style.
Be coherent. Your letter will discuss important things. The recipient should be able to understand what you're saying.
Be deliberate. Do not include unnecessary material. Stick to content that helps achieve the goals of the letter.
Be honest. If you describe situations, do so factually.
Be logical. Conclusions you reach in your letter should rest on common sense rather than depend on wishful thinking.
Be consistent. For example, don't take responsibility for something and then backtrack later in your letter.
Accept the real possibility that writing your letter will be painful. Let what you say demonstrate your pain.
Apologies are are serious business. Only inject humor when you are sure it will help.
Use correct grammar and check your spelling.
Write your letter as soon as possible.
Make a first draft and let your thoughts flow. Wait several hours and read it, then edit as needed.
Put your letter on quality stationery and send it by mail.
Handwrite it unless you have legibility issues.
Make a copy and keep it.
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#2
We would like to receive a draft for admission of guilt letter in respect of misuse of company mobile phone.
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