"Why I Speak Like a Man" by Anneke R. offers an eye-opening point of view on a five letter word most women say without even thinking about it: "sorry." In fact, we insert it into our everyday conversations more often than not. We say this word more times in a year than a man may say it in five.
    

In this passage, Anneke talks about her trip to Germany and how in German there's no way to say "sorry." Not being able to say this small word caused a lot of problems. Anneke couldn't apologize for mispronouncing a word or even "apologizing for not being able to apologize." She realizes that "American women are constantly saying sorry." She also explains why this is so. Many sentences said by men may seem pushy and rude coming from a woman, so we apologize. We do it so we seem less threatening. In the end, Anneke stops trying to apologize in German. In fact, she stopped using it at all. Her experience was that she said things more clearly and straightforward and people started showing her a newfound respect.
    

I often find myself saying sorry, especially for things that I've had nothing to do with. This piece really got to me because it made me think about all the times I've said sorry unnecessarily. My friends have even told me, "Juliet stop saying sorry. You say sorry way too much." And then I end up apologizing for apologizing too much and the vicious cycle starts all over. I know that because I read this point of view, I will think before I apologize. I'll think about if the apology is necessary or if it's just a filler to make me seem less threatening