My excuses

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "My excuses" is not commonly used in written English and may sound awkward.
It can be used when you want to express that you are apologizing for something or providing reasons for a mistake or oversight. Example: "I apologize for my tardiness; my excuses include heavy traffic and a last-minute meeting."

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

My excuses: 1.

The New Yorker

My excuses for not finishing it before were fair enough.

The New Yorker

My excuses were valid, of course, but that's how Resistance works!

Huffington Post

My excuses are many, some legitimate, but none that would hold any water in a court of law.

Huffington Post

I make my excuses and ring off.

Independent

"She had taken away all my excuses".

The New York Times

I make my excuses and leave.

The Guardian - Arts

So I made my excuses and left.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

In other words, I had my excuses.

The New York Times - Travel

Once she's sufficiently reassured, I make my excuses and leave.

The Guardian - Opinion

At that point I made my excuses and left.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider using more direct and sincere alternatives like "My apologies" or "Please excuse me" for a more impactful expression of regret.

Common error

Avoid using "My excuses" excessively in formal business writing. Opt for more professional alternatives like "I apologize for" followed by a clear explanation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "My excuses" functions primarily as a preface to explanations or justifications for actions or omissions. Ludwig examples show its use both as a simple acknowledgement of error and as an introduction to more detailed explanations.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while grammatically acceptable, the phrase "My excuses" should be used with caution. Ludwig AI indicates the phrase is most commonly found in news and media, and it is generally considered neutral to informal. For more formal settings, direct apologies are better. The strength of the phrase lies in its ability to open the door for explanations, however choosing stronger phrasing may benefit the speaker in the long run.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

My apologies

Focuses solely on expressing regret or offering an apology, omitting any justification or reason.

My reasons

Emphasizes the reasons behind an action or decision, rather than an apology or justification.

My justifications

Highlights the act of defending or vindicating one's actions, often implying a need to explain.

The reasons I offer

Presents the explanations in a more formal and deliberate manner.

The explanations I provide

Underscores the act of providing detailed explanations for a situation.

Please excuse me

Functions as a polite way to ask for forgiveness or permission to leave, rather than detailing reasons.

I hope you'll excuse me

Adds a tone of hope that the other party will understand and forgive, indicating a slightly more formal register.

I beg your pardon

A formal expression used to ask for repetition or to apologize for an offense.

I offer my apologies

A more formal way of saying "My apologies", typically used when acknowledging wrongdoing.

Permit me to explain

A formal request to give an explanation, often used in professional contexts.

FAQs

What's a more formal alternative to "My excuses"?

In formal settings, consider using "My apologies" or "I apologize for" followed by a specific explanation.

When is it appropriate to use "My excuses"?

"My excuses" is suitable in informal contexts when you want to offer reasons for a mistake or explain why you need to leave, but it can sound insincere.

How can I make "My excuses" sound more sincere?

Add a genuine expression of regret and take responsibility for your actions. For example, "I am sorry; my lateness was due to unforeseen circumstances" sounds better than just "My excuses".

What's the difference between "My excuses" and "My reasons"?

"My excuses" is often used when acknowledging a fault and offering justification, while "My reasons" focuses on explaining the motivations behind a decision or action without necessarily implying fault.