Stop apologizing, you wimp.

It’s time to eliminate “sorry” from your repertoire. Not only does it make you seem like a total wimp, it’s terribly unprofessional. I’m looking at you, ladies.

There have been scientific studies on this topic which found that female participants apologized more in their daily lives than their male counterparts. This is all too common, especially at work. How many times have you or your female colleague started a sentence by saying “Sorry this might be a stupid question…”

What’s up with that? Why do we feel the urge to apologize for our very existence? Let’s stop this madness and assert ourselves, please. I’m convinced you can get rid of “sorry” altogether, no matter the circumstance.

Scroll down for your sorry-ban gameplan.

Here’s how to stop saying “sorry”

It’s difficult to wean yourself off of this long-standing habit, but here’s some ways to start.

It helps to start by observing when and why you’re saying “sorry” to begin with. Is your apology warranted? For example, are you apologizing when someone holds a door open for you? Cut that out.

Even when an apology is appropriate (we’re all imperfect humans, right?), why not say “I apologize” instead of whining “sorry” to your offended party? Instead of “I’m so sorry I’m late,” say “I had every intention of being here on time and I’d like to apologize for being late.”

For most situations, I’ve found that the best way to replace “sorry” is to flip the situation on its head with a simple “thank you.” For example, when I know someone has been waiting for an email response from me, instead of beginning a reply email with “Sorry it took me so long to get back to you,” I’ll start by saying “Thank you for your patience.”

Without further ado, here are 20 other phrases that get your message across without stripping away your self dignity. May you find strength and the willpower to remove “sorry” from your repertoire from this day forward.