Why do we British keep saying sorry when it's not our fault?

Why do we Brits keep saying sorry when it’s not our fault? A column exploring British apologies notes that politeness often becomes self-imposed ritual, with a hotel encounter sparking the reflection that Brits apologize far more than other cultures. Babbel’s research suggests Brits average about nine apologies a day, and Kate Fox’s fieldwork in Watching the English shows the English “sorry reflex” is widespread, with Japanese sometimes the only comparable culture. The piece argues women apologize more frequently and sometimes to protect others’ perceptions, while warning that constant apologizing can undermine authority in professional settings, echoing the adage often misattributed to Disraeli: public manners shape social power.