7 Answers
Short verdict: you can use 'sorry bro' in formal fanfiction dialogue if it's justified by character, scene, or effect. If you want to maintain an elevated register, avoid it, or sandwich it with more formal phrasing. Consistency and intent are everything—read the line aloud and ask whether it sounds like the person who would actually speak it. When it clicks, it gives a vivid, human beat; when it doesn't, it becomes a speed bump. For me, the small risks are often worth the payoff when it feels real.
I like to keep it practical: 'sorry bro' can absolutely work in fanfiction dialogue, but whether it should is all about voice and context. I’ve written my fair share of scenes where casual speech makes characters feel alive, and 'sorry bro' has its place when a character is relaxed, informal, or part of a modern, colloquial setting. If your fic is riffing off of something like 'My Hero Academia' or a contemporary urban AU, dropping in a line like "sorry bro"—maybe punctuated as "Sorry, bro." or run together as "sry bro" in chat logs—can land as authentic, sly, or affectionate depending on how the rest of the dialogue reads.
That said, I also pay attention to tone clash: if the surrounding prose is formal, poetic, or steeped in archaic speech (think a regency-flavored AU inspired by 'Pride and Prejudice'), that casual phrase will snag the reader out of the setting. When I’m editing, I ask whether the phrase reveals character or just signals laziness. If it reveals relationship (a close bromance, teasing sibling vibe, or a jokey mentor-student dynamic), keep it. If it feels like the writer is defaulting to slang because they can’t find a unique voice, swap it for something more specific—like a catchphrase, an in-joke, or a contraction that fits the era.
My rule of thumb: use 'sorry bro' when it adds flavor or truth to a character, and ditch it when it undermines immersion. Personally, I love the moments when a single casual line makes a scene feel lived-in, so when it fits, I keep it and smile.
I tend to approach this from a craft-first angle: the phrase 'sorry bro' is informal by nature and functions as a dialect marker. When I’m shaping dialogue, I test whether that marker serves the scene. For example, if two characters have a long-established friendship with easy banter, 'sorry bro' can be an efficient shorthand for warmth, apology, and familiarity all at once. In contrast, if the piece mimics a more literary register or a historical setting, that phrase will jar.
Another thing I watch for is consistency. If one character uses 'sorry bro' in one chapter and then switches to overly formal phrasing without cause, it breaks continuity. I also consider medium: chat logs, first-person contemporary narration, or slice-of-life fics welcome contractions and slang. If you’re writing dialogue-heavy scenes that aim to sound like a group DM or a college dorm room, you’re allowed (and expected) to lean into phrases like that. Editing tip: try alternative phrasings in a separate draft—'my bad, bro', 'sorry, man', 'sorry, dude'—to see which best matches cadence and emotional weight. In my experience, the right casualism can make characters breathe; the wrong one can flatten them, so I always err on the side of character truth over trendiness. It usually leaves me satisfied when the line feels earned.
I'll be blunt: 'sorry bro' can work, but it depends on what you're aiming for and who you're writing. If your story is set in a modern, casual universe or the character is deliberately colloquial, that line reads authentic and relatable. For example, a laid-back sibling in a contemporary 'Harry Potter' AU or a streetwise hero in a gritty city setting can absolutely drop that phrase without breaking immersion.
If you're trying to maintain a formal tone—say, a Regency-style piece inspired by 'Pride and Prejudice' or a noble court scene—'sorry bro' will feel jarringly out of place. In those cases, opting for 'my apologies' or 'I beg your pardon' keeps the voice consistent. You can also use the phrase sparingly for comedic or jarring effect: a single modern slang drop in a very formal chapter can highlight culture clash or character growth.
So my rule is simple: trust the context and the character. If it fits the speaker and the scene, go ahead. If it pulls readers out of the moment, tweak the phrasing. Personally, I love when dialogue feels lived-in, so when it fits, 'sorry bro' makes me smile.
I'm more of a punchy, modern-reader type, and I think fanfiction is a playground for voice. 'Sorry bro' lands perfectly in roommate banter, late-night confessions, or heated teammate dynamics—especially in fics that lean into contemporary slang or slice-of-life vibes. If your story tags include modern AU, college setting, or sitcom energy, that phrase fits like a glove.
On the flip side, I always check continuity. If Character A has been speaking like they're straight out of a period drama and suddenly says 'sorry bro' with no setup, that will trip me up. So I either seed casual language earlier, or I give the reason: tiredness, a slip of the tongue, picking up language from another character. Another trick is to mimic speech pattern: maybe they say 's'ry, bro' or 'sorry, bro—my bad,' which feels more natural on the page. I tag my fics for tone and keep a character vocabulary list; doing that saves awkward lines later. Personally, when it feels earned, I love it—it's raw and funny.
I tend to edit for tone first, then for authenticity. If a character uses 'sorry bro', I check whether that word choice reveals something interesting—age, region, social group, relationship closeness. In a formal-feeling fanfic, a sudden 'bro' can be used intentionally to show a shift: maybe the character has been holding back and suddenly drops casual language to show relief or intimacy.
Practical tip: if you want formality but also want the casual beat, try pairing it—'My apologies, bro' or 'Sorry, brother'—so the sentence carries both registers. Another move is to allow other characters to react: a raised eyebrow or a flinch can signal to the reader that the wording is unusual for the scene. That keeps the line in without losing immersion. I often play with those little tonal flips; they make scenes feel alive and a bit cheeky, and I usually enjoy the contrast when it's handled deliberately.
I usually trust my ear for what rings true in a scene, and 'sorry bro' is one of those tiny flags that tells you a lot about a relationship. If two buddies are throwing shade or patching things up after a dumb fight, that exact wording can carry a lot: casual apology, informal intimacy, and sometimes a smirk underneath. I’ll use it in modern AUs or contemporary slices where I want dialogue to read like people actually talking on a couch or over text.
On the flip side, I avoid it in formal atmospheres—courtrooms, high fantasy courts, or very restrained POVs—because it sounds out of place and pulls focus. When I’m unsure I’ll imagine the scene spoken out loud; if it feels like something I’d hear in real life, I keep it. If it feels like trendy filler, I swap it for a line that’s a bit more unique to the characters. At the end of the day, I’m more interested in whether the line enhances the scene than whether it’s strictly formal, so I go with what makes the moment click for me.