apparent justification for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "apparent justification for" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing reasons or explanations that seem to validate a particular action or belief, though they may not be fully substantiated. Example: "The committee found an apparent justification for the new policy, citing recent data trends as support."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

"They come to the athletes with the scientific literature, come up with some apparent justification for recommending whatever they recommend," Wadler said.

The New York Times - Sports

Now, the Treasury Department has determined that "there exists no apparent justification for treating acquisitions of franchises to conduct sports enterprises differently than the acquisitions of other trades or businesses".

The New York Times - Sports

The apparent justification for Hilmes's biography is the examination of some Weimar state papers, which, in fact, merely confirm what previous biographers had surmised about official attitudes to the composer and his menage.

The Guardian - Books

On the other hand, to fail to address the fact that the proposition in question is intuitive that it is the content of an intuiting is, it seems, to neglect something important about one's apparent justification for believing the proposition.

SEP

Yet libertarians provide no objective evidence whatsoever for the existence of free will, and therefore no apparent justification for the mass poverty and brutal punishments that belief in libertarian free will often brings with it.

British Journal of Social Psychology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

The Hague prosecution issued the original indictment against Milosevic for Kosovo in May 1999, at the height of Nato's attack on Yugoslavia and in apparent justification of it.

The Guardian - Opinion

At least, Aristotle takes them to have done it, and with apparent justification.

SEP

Framed by the austerity politics of successive governments, and reinforced by cuts to local authorities, the apparent need and justification for redevelopment has become a well-trodden narrative.

The Guardian

It provides a justification for the apparent dominant effect of the oncogene in its target cells and the ability of synovial sarcoma to arise in multiple sites of the body.

BMC Genomics

The apparent clonality of B. burgdorferi was justification for inferring strain identity from a single locus (9, 10 ), but the extent of genomewide genetic exchange in this species may have been underestimated (6 ).

Emerging Infectious Diseases

The justification for that, apparently, is twofold.

The Guardian - Film

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "apparent justification for" when you want to express that something is being presented as a reason, but you suspect it may not be the full or true reason. Be mindful of the nuance you're conveying, which is often one of skepticism or doubt.

Common error

Avoid using "apparent justification for" when a genuine and well-supported reason exists. Reserve the phrase for scenarios where the supposed reason seems questionable, incomplete, or potentially misleading. A clear and solid "clear justification for" should be presented directly without the qualifier "apparent".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "apparent justification for" functions as a noun phrase, often serving as the subject or object of a sentence. It introduces a reason or explanation that is presented as valid, but with an underlying implication that it may be incomplete, misleading, or simply not the real reason. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

40%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "apparent justification for" serves to introduce a reason or explanation while subtly casting doubt on its validity. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically sound but not overly common, appearing in news, scientific, and formal contexts. Using this phrase effectively requires awareness of its nuanced meaning: a seeming reason that might not be the whole truth. Alternatives such as "ostensible reason for" or "seeming rationale for" can provide similar shades of meaning. Remember, the key is to reserve it for scenarios where the presented reason deserves a critical eye.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

ostensible reason for

Replaces "justification" with "reason", emphasizing a seemingly valid explanation.

seeming rationale for

Uses "rationale" to highlight the reasoning behind something that may not be fully supported.

professed motive for

Highlights the declared intention, which might not be the true intention.

stated grounds for

Focuses on the officially declared reasons for an action or decision.

purported basis for

Implies the foundation is claimed but potentially questionable.

surface justification for

Highlights that the justification is only on the surface and might conceal other motivations.

visible pretext for

Emphasizes that the "justification" is a cover for the real reason.

outward excuse for

Suggests a weak attempt to vindicate an action.

superficial validation for

Indicates a shallow or inadequate attempt to justify something.

alleged reason for

Highlights that the reason is stated but potentially untrue.

FAQs

How can I use "apparent justification for" in a sentence?

Use "apparent justification for" when you want to indicate that there seems to be a reason or excuse for something, but it might not be the real or complete reason. For instance, "The company cited increased costs as the "ostensible reason for" layoffs, but the "apparent justification for" seemed questionable given their recent profits."

What phrases are similar to "apparent justification for"?

Similar phrases include "ostensible reason for", "seeming rationale for", "professed motive for", or "alleged reason for". These alternatives also suggest that the given explanation might not be the full or true story.

Is it appropriate to use "apparent justification for" in formal writing?

Yes, but use it judiciously. Because it implies a degree of skepticism or doubt, ensure that your use aligns with the tone and purpose of your writing. In formal contexts, consider if a more neutral phrasing like "stated reason for" is more suitable.

What's the difference between "apparent justification for" and "clear justification for"?

"Apparent justification for" suggests the reason may not be the whole truth. In contrast, "clear justification for" indicates a solid, easily understood reason. Use "apparent" when you suspect the explanation might be misleading.