conceivable justification

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "conceivable justification" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing potential reasons or explanations that could be imagined or thought of in a particular context. Example: "While the decision was controversial, there may be a conceivable justification for the actions taken by the committee."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

"There was no conceivable justification," Mr. Straw said, referring to the suicide bombing.

The New York Times

There was no conceivable justification for any claim being made at any point".

Independent

"No conceivable justification exists for treating Mr. Soltren more harshly than his co-defendants".

The New York Times

But there is no conceivable justification for imposing such edicts on hospitals it no longer owns.

The New York Times

He was profoundly right in saying that Sept. 11 was an appalling crime that had no conceivable justification, or even any real origin in oppression and injustice.

The New York Times - Books

"There can be no conceivable justification for requiring a soldier to surrender all his clothing, remain naked in his cell for seven hours, and then stand at attention the subsequent morning," he wrote.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

Clearly, those who maintain that zombies are conceivable must provide justification, recognizing that, as an epistemic claim dependent on our cognitive abilities, it is defeasible.

SEP

Additionally, it was primarily his decision to engage Mr Webb to conduct discreet surveillance of Mr Lewis and Ms Harris in circumstances where there was no conceivable journalistic or other justification to do so: this was clearly in breach of their Article 8 rights.

The Guardian

These were the nights, he said, when Stamford Bridge tended to be at its best and he argued, with some justification, that it was barely conceivable to think the players Di Matteo had inherited from André Villas-Boas would be as vulnerable as they were in Italy.

The Guardian - Sport

Similarly, if exclusion is exercised, it is very conceivable that unfitness of specific knowledges is mobilized as a justification (there is of course a large literature on such forms of 'boundary work', starting with Gieryn [49]).

Energy, Sustainability and Society

Given that open invitation Judge Tauro concluded that all of the justifications offered in DOMA flunked even the lowest "conceivable" standard of rationality.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "conceivable justification", ensure the context makes it clear whether you believe the justification is valid or merely theoretically possible. Consider adding clarifying language.

Common error

Avoid using "conceivable justification" when a stronger, more definitive justification exists. This phrase implies a degree of uncertainty or hypothetical reasoning.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "conceivable justification" functions as a noun phrase where "conceivable" modifies the noun "justification". It serves to introduce the idea that there might be a reason or excuse that one can imagine or think of, as validated by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

15%

Encyclopedias

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "conceivable justification" is a grammatically correct phrase that suggests a reason or explanation is possible to imagine or consider. As confirmed by Ludwig, the phrase is most frequently used in news and media contexts, carrying a neutral tone. While useful for acknowledging potential rationales, it is important to consider the strength of the justification and whether a more definite explanation might be more appropriate. Alternatives such as ""plausible reason"" or "possible rationale" may be more fitting depending on the intended nuance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

supportable justification

Indicates that the justification can be backed up with evidence or logical reasoning.

defensible rationale

Implies a rationale that can be supported with arguments or evidence.

plausible reason

Replaces "justification" with "reason" and "conceivable" with "plausible", implying a believable explanation.

possible rationale

Uses "rationale" instead of "justification" and "possible" instead of "conceivable", suggesting a potential underlying logic.

tenable explanation

Suggests an explanation that is reasonable and can be maintained against scrutiny.

imaginable explanation

Substitutes "conceivable" with "imaginable" and "justification" with "explanation", emphasizing the ability to envision a reason.

potential excuse

Replaces "justification" with "excuse", which can imply a weaker or less valid reason.

theoretical basis

Offers a formal or academic tone, suggesting a reasoned or logical foundation.

arguable pretext

Suggests that the justification is debatable or possibly not the real reason.

thinkable defense

Uses "thinkable" to replace "conceivable" and "defense" instead of "justification", suggesting something that could be used to argue in favor of.

FAQs

How to use "conceivable justification" in a sentence?

Use "conceivable justification" to introduce a reason or explanation that is possible to imagine or consider, even if it's not necessarily strong or valid. For example, "There is no "plausible reason" for such behavior."

What can I say instead of "conceivable justification"?

You can use alternatives like ""plausible reason"", "possible rationale", or "imaginable explanation" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Which is correct, "conceivable justification" or "inconceivable justification"?

"Conceivable justification" means a justification that can be imagined or thought of. "Inconceivable justification" means a justification that cannot be imagined or considered possible.

What's the difference between "conceivable justification" and "valid justification"?

"Conceivable justification" suggests a reason that is merely possible to imagine, while "valid justification" implies a reason that is sound, logical, and well-supported.