Sorry, etiquette and awkward moments guides

Apologies, accepting one, returning gifts, RSVP wording and group gift etiquette. There are 12 guides in this section, all free to read and copy from.

Every one is written for a specific moment rather than in general, so pick the closest fit and take the lines you need.

• Apology messages for a partner
  Forty sorry messages for a partner, from short notes to serious apologies.
• Sorry I forgot your birthday
  What to say when you forgot a birthday, funny and sincere versions.
• Belated birthday messages
  Forty belated birthday messages, funny through to formal.
• Late thank you messages
  Wording for overdue thank yous, from wedding gifts to hospitality.
• Sorry messages for a friend
  Apology messages for friends, including reaching out after a long silence.
• Apology messages for work
  Professional apology wording for colleagues, managers and clients.
• How to accept an apology
  Thirty replies for accepting an apology, from warm to work-appropriate.
• How to return a gift politely
  Wording and UK etiquette for returning, exchanging or re-homing a gift.
• RSVP wording
  How to accept or decline an invitation, with wording for every occasion.
• Group gift etiquette
  How to organise a group gift or collection without awkwardness.
• No gifts please wording
  Polite wording for asking guests not to bring presents.
• Asking for money instead of gifts
  Polite wording for asking guests for money rather than presents.

Other guide topics

• Best of: cards and gifts
• What to write in a card
• Messages by recipient
• How much to spend
• Jokes and humour
• Puns and wordplay
• Rhymes, poems and quotes
• Riddles and quizzes
• Games and activities
• Party planning
• Decorations and how-to
• Fancy dress and themes
• Celebrations
• Work and colleagues
• Speeches and toasts
• Cheering someone up
• Feel-good reading
• Christmas and seasonal
• Secret Santa
• Festivals and world celebrations
• Christenings and faith milestones
• Charity and fundraising
• Badges and pins
• Card design and how cards work

Back to all guides

Where to shop next

• All guides
• Card ideas
• Browse all cards
• Gifts to make someone smile
• Thinking of you gifts

Frequently asked questions

How many sorry, etiquette and awkward moments guides are there?

There are 12 in this section, and the full directory has 267 guides across 25 topics.

Are these free to use?

Yes. Copy any message, joke or checklist straight into a card or a party plan. You do not need to buy anything.