"I feel guilty" vs "I feel a sense of guilt"

Question

"I feel guilty" vs "I feel a sense of guilt"

Both phrases are correct, but they convey slightly different nuances. 'I feel guilty' is a more common and direct way to express the emotion of guilt, while 'I feel a sense of guilt' is a more formal and elaborate way to convey the same feeling.

Last Updated: March 15, 2024

This phrase is a simple and direct way to express the feeling of guilt that one is experiencing.

Examples:

I feel guilty for not helping my friend when she needed me.
She feels guilty about lying to her parents.
He feels guilty for breaking his promise.
They feel guilty for not studying for the exam.
We feel guilty for eating all the cookies.

Alternatives:

I am guilty
I am feeling guilty
I have guilt
I am experiencing guilt
I am filled with guilt

This phrase is suitable for more formal or literary contexts where a more elaborate expression of guilt is desired.

Alternatives:

I feel guilty
I am experiencing guilt
I have a feeling of guilt
I am filled with a sense of guilt
I am overwhelmed by guilt

Answer 1

I feel guilty

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to express the emotion of guilt.

Answer 2

I feel a sense of guilt

This phrase is correct but less commonly used in everyday language. It conveys a more formal and elaborate expression of the feeling of guilt.

"I feel guilty" vs "I feel a sense of guilt"

I feel guilty

I feel a sense of guilt

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