I'm sorry but...

[PamNY]

What I'm talking about is:

I'm sorry, but that car is ugly.

Hmmm. I'm still mulling this over.

As a linguist I wonder if some of the "I'm sorry but..." is a way to attach a dependent clause.

If someone dinged another car and left a note, is one of these preferable?

A. I'm sorry that I dented your fender.
2. I'm sorry but I dented your fender.
iii. I'm sorry I dented your fender.

(As I was writing them, I thought they'd be the same, but reading them over, I have a clear favorite and a clear least favorite.) Anyone else?

[malkin]

What I'm talking about is:

I'm sorry, but that car is ugly.

Right, used when the speaker isn't sorry at all.

*snicker* Look way down the definition options, dictionary.com...5 and 6 are kind of funny in this context.

1. feeling regret, compunction, sympathy, pity, etc.: to be sorry to leave one's friends; to be sorry for a remark; to be sorry for someone in trouble.
2. regrettable or deplorable; unfortunate; tragic: a sorry situation; to come to a sorry end.
3. sorrowful, grieved, or sad: Was she sorry when her brother died?
4. associated with sorrow; suggestive of grief or suffering; melancholy; dismal.
5. wretched, poor, useless, or pitiful: a sorry horse.
6. (used interjectionally as a conventional apology or expression of regret): Sorry, you're misinformed. Did I bump you? Sorry.

I'm pitiful, but that car is ugly.

[Possegal]

When I saw the subject my mind right to
"no offense but,..." which is always followed by something that is more likely than not going to offend you. So I think no offense but bothers me as much as I'm sorry but bothers you.

I am so glad I'm perfect.

I had a friend tell me once that I commented that something was a pet peeve more than anyone he knew. He said I had more pet peeves than anyone. I however believe that the things that bothered me, bothered them too, just that I was the only one that called it a pet peeve. I've tried to use that phrase less since then.