followed with ‘I wasn’t aware is so important to you. I didn’t want to insult you and if you felt so, I apologize. The word fuck is one I use very often, but I’ll try to control myself around you’
Note I didn’t insult the coworker (no fuck you or fuck off), but simply said ‘fuck’ out loud due to a job error.
Not everything is about what we’re “required” to do. If op wants to apologize, why try and talk them out of it?
I agree. Id prefer to just address it openly and directly.