2014年ESL之商务英语 22 Issuing a Public Apology

 

Issuing a Public Apology 

Working in public relations, I often have to deal with my clients’ gaffes¹ and blunders. My job is to calm any firestorm before it gets out of hand. 

One of the most important things to do whenever there’s been a misstep is to issue a public apology. An apology should say plainly and clearly that the individual or company is sorry and that it takes responsibility for its actions. If possible, the apology should outline corrective actions that will be taken. The key is to come clean, apologize, and take the blame, and to do so quickly and without hesitation². 

I give my clients this advice every time they land themselves in a mess, but do they listen to me? The smarts ones do. 

And the others? Many of them are still trying to salvage³ their reputations and to bounce back. And me? I try very hard not to say, “I told you so.” 

 

Script by Dr. Lucy Tse 

1 gaffes   

n.失礼，出丑( gaffe的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The presidential candidate made three mistakes, or gaffes, during his speech. 校长候选人在演讲中出了三次错，或失态。 来自超越目标英语 第4册
• When the microphones were on, gaffes gushed from his lips. 而当电话响起，他却口无遮拦，屡屡失言。 来自互联网

2 hesitation   

n.犹豫，踌躇

参考例句：

• After a long hesitation, he told the truth at last.踌躇了半天，他终于直说了。
• There was a certain hesitation in her manner.她的态度有些犹豫不决。

3 salvage   

v.救助，营救，援救；n.救助，营救

参考例句：

• All attempts to salvage the wrecked ship failed.抢救失事船只的一切努力都失败了。
• The salvage was piled upon the pier.抢救出的财产被堆放在码头上。