excuse

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "excuse" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when asking for forgiveness or when requesting someone to overlook a mistake or inconvenience. Example: "Please excuse my absence from the meeting; I had a family emergency."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

There's no excuse for it.

The New York Times - Sports

That doesn't excuse things like the alleged failure to disclose, in the case of Abacus, important facts like John Paulson's involvement in picking the securities in the C.D.O.

The Economist

Plus it provides the perfect excuse to run away from your relatives.

The Guardian

Cathars ambushed him in a forest and killed him – thus giving the official church even more excuse to persecute "heretics".

The Guardian - Arts

His was less a question and answer session and more an extended excuse for the audience to tell him how disappointed they were in him.

The Guardian

They have just unveiled their fancy new website, which gives us a good excuse to show off some of their work: The 50 best prospects in French football (AKA one for the hipsters).

The Guardian - Sport

But if you were thinking that five-a-side is just an excuse for unfit middle-aged people to have a quick kickabout before adjourning to the pub, then an editorial in this month's British Journal of Sports Medicine brings interesting news.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Dame of what?" Given "what" appeared to be the British empire, Lessing felt she should excuse herself: "When young I did my best to undo that bit of the British Empire I found myself in: that is, old Southern Rhodesia".

The Guardian - Opinion

Let's use it as an excuse to reprint that great picture of her with David Bowie and Tilda Swinton last November.

The Guardian

Related: Premier League fans' verdicts part 2: Manchester United to West Ham Falcao's decline has been so difficult on the eye that he is now attracting the one thing no footballer ever wants – pity – and there are people at Old Trafford who have started talking about his inadequacies in a way that reminds me of how Alvy Singer, Woody Allen's character, used to excuse Annie Hall's erratic parking.

The Guardian - Sport

But consular officials in Colombo are refusing to allow the donor to enter Britain because they claim she is simply seeking an excuse to flee Sri Lanka.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "excuse" as a verb, ensure clarity regarding who or what is being excused. For instance, specify "excuse my tardiness" rather than simply "excuse me."

Common error

Avoid using "excuse" to mask accountability. While it can offer context, over-reliance on excuses without acknowledging responsibility weakens your argument and damages credibility.

Linguistic Context

The word "excuse" functions both as a verb, meaning to pardon or forgive, and as a noun, referring to a justification or reason given to avoid blame. Ludwig provides examples of both usages, affirming its versatility in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the term "excuse" is a versatile word functioning as both a verb and a noun, commonly found in various contexts, particularly in news and media. Ludwig AI confirms that "excuse" is grammatically sound and widely used in English, serving purposes ranging from seeking forgiveness to providing justifications. While generally neutral in tone, it is crucial to avoid misusing "excuse" as a mere deflection of accountability, aiming instead for genuine explanations or requests for pardon. Understanding its function and purpose, as highlighted by Ludwig, ensures effective and appropriate usage across different writing scenarios.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

pardon me

A polite way to interrupt or ask someone to repeat themselves; conveys a sense of apology.

forgive me

Directly requests forgiveness, emphasizing personal responsibility and remorse.

justify

Focuses on providing reasons or evidence to show why an action or belief is correct or reasonable.

rationalize

Attempts to explain or justify behavior or attitudes with logical reasons, even if they are not entirely accurate.

make amends

Emphasizes the action of trying to repair a relationship or situation after wrongdoing.

offer an apology

Formally presents a regretful acknowledgement of a fault or offense.

beg indulgence

Requests leniency or patience, often implying a minor offense or inconvenience.

offer a pretext

Provides a reason that is given to hide the real reason for something.

mitigate

Lessens the severity or impact of something negative, such as a mistake or wrongdoing.

defend

Provides an argument or justification to protect someone or something from criticism or attack.

FAQs

How can I use "excuse" in a sentence?

You can use "excuse" as a verb meaning to forgive or pardon, as in "Please "excuse my absence"". It can also be used as a noun, referring to a reason given to justify a fault, as in "That's a poor "excuse for being late"".

What are some alternatives to the word "excuse"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "pardon", "forgive", "justify", or "reason".

When is it appropriate to say "excuse me"?

"Excuse me" is appropriate when you need to get someone's attention politely, when you need to interrupt someone briefly, or when you need to move past someone in a crowded space. It's a versatile phrase for showing courtesy.

What's the difference between "excuse" and "alibi"?

While both "excuse" and "alibi" can be used to avoid blame, an "alibi" specifically refers to evidence that proves someone was elsewhere when a crime was committed. An "excuse" is a more general reason for a fault or failing.