believable excuse

USAGE SUMMARY

"believable excuse" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when referring to an excuse that seems credible or plausible. For example, "She provided a believable excuse for her absence." Alternative expressions include "plausible excuse" and "credible explanation."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Books

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

Henry P. Baloney, late for school again, has to come up with a believable excuse for his teacher, Miss Bugscuffle.

The New York Times - Books

Considering their apparent surprise at the trajectory of their formation and critical success of the 1612 Underture, it's a believable excuse to give to prying journalists at least.

The Guardian

It was alleged in the crown opening that the pizza delivery was a ruse to allow Mr Brooks to re-enter the underground car park with a believable excuse.

Independent

Federal investigators said the young men, before their trip, had been instructed by a recruiter from Al Qaeda to feign an interest in Tablighi Jamaat to build a believable excuse for traveling to Pakistan for their supposed religious course, rather than to an Arab country where some of them would at least have spoken the language.

The New York Times

(Ages 5 and up) Henry P. Baloney, a small alien with a green quiff like an off-color Tintin, has a problem: he is late for school, again, and Miss Bugscuffle is going to give him Permanent Lifelong Detention unless he can come up with a very good and very believable excuse.

The New York Times - Books

Instead of trying to conjure up a believable excuse as to why her daughter was late for school Thursday, the mother just came clean.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

I've heard more believable excuses from bare-faced five -year olds.

The Guardian - Opinion

The situations that could result from the Ashley Madison exposure will put a premium on believable excuses, which is why psychiatrists and psychologists will be in high demand.

Huffington Post

Make sure you know what you were actually supposed to be doing all day and come up with believable excuses to explain why you haven't done a task, or convincing lies to explain that you have.

WikiHow

The more complicated the excuse, the less believable it is to management.

WikiHow

ALWAYS make your excuses REASONABLE and BELIEVABLE!

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When crafting a "believable excuse", ensure it aligns with the context and your known habits to enhance its credibility. Avoid overly elaborate or outlandish stories.

Common error

Don't make your excuse too complex or detailed. The more intricate the story, the more likely it is to contain inconsistencies that undermine its believability. Simplicity often enhances credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "believable excuse" functions as a noun phrase, where the adjective "believable" modifies the noun "excuse". As seen in Ludwig's examples, it's used to describe the quality of an excuse, indicating that it is credible or plausible.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Wiki

30%

Books

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "believable excuse" is a common and grammatically correct expression used to describe a reason or justification that is credible. Ludwig's analysis indicates it's suitable for various contexts, from news reports to everyday conversation. While the phrase itself is straightforward, crafting a truly believable excuse requires careful consideration of the context and the audience. Remember, as Ludwig AI highlights, simplicity often enhances credibility. Alternatives like "plausible explanation" or "credible story" can be used depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey. With a score of 4.1, the phrase is considered expert rated.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

plausible explanation

Changes the noun from 'excuse' to 'explanation' and 'believable' to 'plausible', emphasizing the reason provided.

convincing alibi

Replaces 'excuse' with 'alibi', suggesting a more formal or legal context, and 'believable' with 'convincing', highlighting persuasiveness.

credible story

Substitutes 'excuse' with 'story', focusing on the narrative aspect, and 'believable' with 'credible', emphasizing trustworthiness.

valid justification

Replaces 'excuse' with 'justification', implying a stronger defense, and 'believable' with 'valid', emphasizing legitimacy.

tenable reason

Changes 'excuse' to 'reason', a more general term, and 'believable' to 'tenable', suggesting defensibility.

sound explanation

Emphasizes the reasoning behind the explanation, suggesting it's logical and well-supported.

realistic pretext

Highlights the realism of the excuse, implying it aligns with potential circumstances.

authentic account

Shifts focus to the genuineness of the account, suggesting it's truthful and verifiable.

colorable pretense

Offers a more formal and nuanced way to describe an excuse that appears valid but might not be.

persuasive narrative

Highlights the storytelling aspect, emphasizing how convincing the story is to others.

FAQs

How can I make my excuse more believable?

To enhance the believability of your excuse, ensure it's consistent with your past behavior and the known circumstances. Providing too much detail can often backfire; keep it simple and plausible. Consider using a "plausible explanation" instead.

What are some alternatives to saying "believable excuse"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "plausible explanation", "convincing alibi", or "credible story". The choice depends on whether you want to emphasize plausibility, legal defensibility, or trustworthiness.

Is "believable excuse" formal or informal?

The phrase "believable excuse" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. However, in more formal settings, you might opt for a synonym like "valid justification" or "tenable reason" to convey a more professional tone.

What makes an excuse unbelievable?

An excuse becomes unbelievable when it contradicts known facts, involves improbable events, or lacks consistency. Overly detailed or emotional explanations can also raise suspicion. The key is to keep it simple and align it with a "realistic pretext".