You need to explain to your manager why you missed an important meeting.

**Question:**
You missed an important client meeting this morning because your train was delayed by two hours due to a signal failure. Write an email to your manager, Ms. Williams. In your email:
– Apologize for missing the meeting
– Explain clearly what happened
– Describe what you have done to catch up

**Model Answer:**

**To:** ms.williams@company.com
**Subject:** Explanation – missed client meeting this morning

Dear Ms. Williams,

I am writing to sincerely apologize for missing the 10:00 AM client meeting with Acme Corporation this morning. I understand that my absence may have caused inconvenience to you and the rest of the team, and I take full responsibility.

Let me explain what happened. I left home at 8:15 AM as usual to catch the 8:30 AM express train from Union Station. However, at 8:45 AM, an announcement was made that all trains were halted due to a signal failure near the downtown core. The delay lasted for approximately two hours, and the train finally departed at 10:45 AM. I arrived at the office at 11:30 AM, by which time the meeting had already concluded. I have attached a screenshot of the transit alert and my ticket timestamp as evidence.

To make up for my absence, I have already done the following: First, I reviewed the meeting notes that Sarah kindly shared with me. Second, I have drafted a follow-up email to the client summarizing the action items and offering to schedule a separate call to address any questions they may have. Third, I have completed the action items assigned to me and submitted them to the shared drive.

I deeply regret missing this important meeting, especially knowing how critical this client is to our quarterly targets. I will ensure this does not happen again. Going forward, I will take an earlier train on days when I have morning meetings to build in a buffer for unexpected delays.

Thank you for your understanding.

Sincerely,
David Park