an acceptable alibi

USAGE SUMMARY

"an acceptable alibi" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when discussing a reason or explanation that justifies someone's actions or whereabouts, particularly in legal or investigative contexts. For example: "The suspect provided an acceptable alibi that cleared him of suspicion." Alternative expressions include "a valid alibi" and "a credible alibi."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Languages are difficult to learn for most of us, but that too is not an acceptable alibi.

Johns Hopkins University

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

To support a weak but acceptable alibi, there was luckily also a can of Ovaltine in the cabinet, my Dad's morning breakfast.

Huffington Post

A GRADE-A MYSTERY "A" Is for Alibi — by Sue Grafton (Bantam Books, $6.99).

Forbes

Definitely an acceptable substitute.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Identify an acceptable reason.

WikiHow

Moreover, Mr. Fleming had an alibi, a powerful alibi.

HuffPost

But Alexandria is merely an alibi, a mold, a construct.

The New York Times - Arts

He had secretly given a friend £19,000 for an alibi.

The Guardian - Sport

They carried out that ghastly act while you sat in a pub giving yourself an alibi".

BBC

"It's certainly not an alibi or an excuse.

The New York Times - Sports

His note provides an all-purpose alibi for an assassination.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In formal writing, maintain consistency by pairing "an acceptable alibi" with evidence or witness statements that reinforce its plausibility. This strengthens the narrative and supports your argument effectively.

Common error

Avoid assuming that "an acceptable alibi" is automatically truthful. Always verify the alibi through independent sources and corroborating evidence to prevent misinterpretations and ensure accuracy.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "an acceptable alibi" functions as a noun phrase, where "acceptable" modifies the noun "alibi". Based on Ludwig AI, it describes a reason or explanation that meets a certain standard of credibility. Examples in Ludwig show the phrase being used in contexts where the alibi's validity is being assessed.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

37%

Wiki

20%

Academia

7%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "an acceptable alibi" functions as a noun phrase denoting a defense that meets basic standards of credibility. Ludwig AI indicates that this phrase is grammatically correct and usable. While its frequency is rare, it appears primarily in News & Media and Wiki contexts, with less presence in academic or formal settings. The phrase serves to provide justification or a reason, and Ludwig's analysis shows the expression is most commonly found in news and media and it suggests that somebody might be innocent. When incorporating this term into your writing, ensure that the alibi's credibility is clearly established through supporting evidence or witness statements.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a valid alibi

Replaces "acceptable" with "valid", implying a legally or officially sound alibi.

a credible alibi

Substitutes "acceptable" with "credible", focusing on the believability of the alibi.

a plausible alibi

Uses "plausible" instead of "acceptable", emphasizing the seeming reasonableness of the alibi.

a convincing alibi

Replaces "acceptable" with "convincing", highlighting the alibi's ability to persuade.

a satisfactory alibi

Uses "satisfactory" in place of "acceptable", suggesting the alibi meets a certain requirement.

a legitimate alibi

Replaces "acceptable" with "legitimate", stressing the lawfulness of the alibi.

a tenable alibi

Employs "tenable" instead of "acceptable", indicating the alibi can be defended or maintained.

a defensible alibi

Substitutes "acceptable" with "defensible", implying the alibi can withstand scrutiny.

a sound alibi

Uses "sound" in place of "acceptable", signifying that the alibi is reliable and strong.

a solid alibi

Replaces "acceptable" with "solid", indicating the alibi is firm and well-supported.

FAQs

How can I use "an acceptable alibi" in a sentence?

You can use "an acceptable alibi" to describe a reason or explanation that justifies someone's actions or whereabouts. For example, "The suspect provided "an acceptable alibi" that cleared him of suspicion."

What are some alternatives to "an acceptable alibi"?

Alternatives include phrases like "a valid alibi", "a credible alibi", or "a plausible alibi", each emphasizing different aspects of the alibi's quality.

What makes an alibi "acceptable"?

An alibi is "acceptable" when it is considered adequate or satisfactory in explaining someone's whereabouts at the time of an event, especially if it aligns with known facts and evidence.

Which is more convincing, "an acceptable alibi" or "a solid alibi"?

While both terms suggest a degree of validity, "a solid alibi" implies a stronger, more robust defense compared to "an acceptable alibi", which simply means it meets a minimum standard.