a plausible excuse

USAGE SUMMARY

'a plausible excuse' is a correct and usable expression in written English.
It is used to refer to an excuse which is seen as reasonable or credible by others. For example: "My colleague offered a plausible excuse for not being able to attend the meeting, so I accepted it."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

23 human-written examples

I try to think of a plausible excuse to leave.

The New York Times

I was giving Mélodie a plausible excuse for future unavailability.

The Guardian

Failings by the campaign in Glasgow do not offer a plausible excuse.

The Guardian - Opinion

But the missile attack gave the Saudis a plausible excuse to close Hodeidah.

The Guardian

They just want a plausible excuse to settle their mind so they can move on to another topic.

The Washington Post

Once upon a time there was at least a plausible excuse for requiring students to return to school in August.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

37 human-written examples

All the same it was difficult to find any plausible excuse for a team that finished with Alexis Sánchez, Romelu Lukaku, Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial and Juan Mata on the pitch but barely landed a glove on willing but limited opponents.

The Guardian - Sport

The Seattle Post-Intelligencer declared in a May 11 editorial, "If there is any plausible excuse for the Gestapo-like tactics used in a raid on a Kent alternative medicine clinic, it had better be forthcoming and fast". Organizers have gone door to door in many communities, met with members of Congress and held demonstrations.

The New York Times

Nonetheless, the assembly should now be revived, not because this is peace in our time, but because it makes sense to deny the IRA any plausible excuse to withdraw its grudging co-operation.

The Economist

So make room for the possibility that you simply want to withdraw from this particular office party with a polite and plausible excuse.

The New York Times - Style

That this notion is now being advanced as a reason for giving British officials an opportunity potentially to tamper with the report indicates that Woodward has been unable to come up with an even remotely plausible excuse for his proposed interference.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When crafting an excuse, focus on aligning it with known facts to enhance its plausibility. Providing specific details can make the excuse more convincing.

Common error

Avoid making your excuse too complicated or far-fetched. A simple, straightforward explanation is often more believable than a convoluted story.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a plausible excuse" functions as a noun phrase, where "plausible" modifies the noun "excuse". It serves to describe the nature of the excuse being offered, indicating its believability or reasonableness. According to Ludwig, it is a correct and usable expression.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Wiki

12%

Encyclopedias

8%

Less common in

Science

4%

Formal & Business

4%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a plausible excuse" is a common and grammatically correct phrase used to describe an excuse that seems believable or reasonable. Ludwig's AI confirms its proper usage in English writing. It is most frequently found in news and media contexts, but also appears in encyclopedias and wikis, indicating its widespread understanding and applicability. While the phrase is generally neutral in register, ensuring that the excuse aligns with known facts will enhance its persuasiveness. Alternatives include "a believable excuse", "a credible explanation", and "a convincing reason", each offering slight nuances in meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a believable excuse

Replaces "plausible" with "believable", focusing on the credibility of the excuse.

a credible explanation

Substitutes "excuse" with "explanation", shifting the context slightly towards a more formal justification.

a convincing reason

Replaces both "plausible" and "excuse" with "convincing reason", emphasizing the persuasive nature of the justification.

a tenable justification

Uses "tenable" instead of "plausible" and "justification" instead of "excuse", suggesting a defensible reason.

a reasonable alibi

Replaces "excuse" with "alibi", specifically in contexts where one is attempting to prove their innocence.

a valid pretext

Substitutes with "valid pretext", implying a reason that might not be entirely true but is acceptable on the surface.

a good enough reason

Simplifies the phrase to an informal expression, suggesting the excuse is adequate but not necessarily perfect.

a satisfactory explanation

Replaces "plausible excuse" with "satisfactory explanation", focusing on meeting a basic requirement of acceptance.

a surface-level justification

Implies the excuse is believable at first glance but may not hold up under scrutiny.

an acceptable rationale

Uses "acceptable rationale", suggesting the excuse is adequate within a specific framework or set of standards.

FAQs

How can I use "a plausible excuse" in a sentence?

You can use "a plausible excuse" to explain why someone's explanation for their actions is believable. For example, "She offered "a plausible excuse" for her lateness, citing heavy traffic."

What can I say instead of "a plausible excuse"?

Alternatives include "a believable excuse", "a credible explanation", or "a convincing reason", depending on the specific context.

Is it better to provide a detailed or simple "a plausible excuse"?

While details can enhance believability, overly elaborate excuses can raise suspicion. Aim for a balance, providing enough information to make the excuse credible without making it overly complex.

What makes an excuse "a plausible excuse" rather than just an excuse?

Plausibility implies that the excuse is believable and reasonable, based on the available information and context. It suggests that the excuse could realistically be true, even if its veracity isn't definitively proven.