What is a repair attempt?

This entry describes a repair attempt as a move, during or soon after conflict, that tries to stop the slide: a softer tone, a brief joke, a pause, or a plain statement that the talk has turned harsh. It treats the attempt as an offer, which the other person can take up or miss.

What this entry does not do

It does not replace the entry on repair after a serious fight, and it does not supply a line that compels forgiveness.