I excuse that

USAGE SUMMARY

"I excuse that" is a correct and usable phrase in written English, however it will depend on the context to determine when and how it would be used.
For example, "I'm sorry I was late, I excuse that my car broke down."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

I excuse that by being busy, though I'm sure others are busier.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

"I excuse the goalkeeper in that as well, but the rest of the team were very, very poor.

BBC

I love him so much that I excuse them more than I might have done before".

The Guardian - Film

I excuse myself by repeating that the survey is necessarily incomplete.

Journal of Statistical Distributions and Applications

You should excuse that I, a psychoanalyst, put things as naïvely as that, but that's the way I think about them.

The New Yorker

I hope you'll excuse that little flight of narration.

TechCrunch

I do not disagree, and I'm not here to excuse that conduct.

The New York Times

COLLINS: So I excused myself so that they could have their conversation.

The Washington Post

I excused myself, knowing that a Westerner's presence can confuse things.

Huffington Post

"I'm not excusing that, but one could see how those circumstances would push one to the dangers of criminal activity," the judge said.

The New York Times

I love the outdoors and I use any excuse that I can to get out and experience nature.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "I excuse that" when you want to convey acceptance or overlooking of a minor fault or mistake. Ensure the context makes it clear what you are excusing.

Common error

Avoid using "I excuse that" in highly formal or professional settings where a more diplomatic phrase like "I understand" or "I acknowledge" might be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of the phrase "I excuse that" is to serve as a declarative statement where the speaker expresses their willingness to overlook or forgive a particular action, mistake, or circumstance. As Ludwig AI suggests, this expression depends on context and may be replaced by more formal alternatives.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "I excuse that" expresses a speaker's willingness to overlook or forgive something. While grammatically correct, its usage is relatively rare and context-dependent. Ludwig AI highlights the need to consider the situation and choose language accordingly. Authoritative sources like the Huffington Post and BBC show its use in news and media. However, more formal settings may benefit from alternative expressions such as "I pardon that" or "I understand". Although "I excuse that" may be appropriate in many contexts, it should be carefully considered depending on audience and purpose.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I pardon that

Replaces "excuse" with "pardon", indicating forgiveness or overlooking an offense.

I overlook that

Focuses on ignoring or disregarding something, rather than explicitly excusing it.

I forgive that

Emphasizes the act of forgiving, implying a stronger emotional component.

I justify that

Indicates providing reasons or explanations to defend or excuse something.

I condone that

Suggests accepting or allowing something, often with reservations.

I let that pass

Implies allowing something to go without comment or action.

I'll let that slide

Similar to 'let that pass', but more informal.

I'm lenient with that

Highlights the speaker's willingness to be permissive or tolerant.

I'll give that a pass

An informal way of saying something is being excused or overlooked.

I accept that explanation

Emphasizes the acceptance of a provided justification or reason.

FAQs

What does "I excuse that" mean?

The phrase "I excuse that" means that the speaker is willing to overlook or forgive something, usually a minor fault or mistake. It implies acceptance of a situation or behavior, despite its imperfections.

When is it appropriate to use "I excuse that"?

It is appropriate to use "I excuse that" when you wish to express forgiveness or acceptance of a minor error or oversight, especially when the context does not demand a more formal expression. For example: "I excuse that, everyone makes mistakes".

What are some alternatives to "I excuse that"?

You can use alternatives like "I pardon that", "I overlook that", or "I forgive that" depending on the context.

Is "I excuse that" formal or informal?

"I excuse that" is generally considered neutral to slightly informal. More formal alternatives include phrases like "I understand" or "I acknowledge".