excuse him for

USAGE SUMMARY

"excuse him for" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It is typically used to indicate that someone is pardoning, apologizing, or making excuses for someone else's actions or behavior. Here is an example of how it can be used: "Please excuse him for his rude behavior, he's been under a lot of stress lately."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

19 human-written examples

"I would excuse him for today," he said.

The New York Times

I'm sure you all send him your best and excuse him for not being here.

Yale University

But that did not excuse him for lying to employers, he added.

The New York Times

I don't excuse him for his unethical practices in office, but I do celebrate his honesty and guts.

The New York Times

But his critics said that does not excuse him for taking a trip sponsored by UJA now.

The New York Times

That doesn't excuse him for his elaborate efforts to buy lawmakers and staffers or for the millions of dollars he essentially stole from Indian tribes.

The Washington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

41 human-written examples

She added: "Excusing him for it is not going to make his life any better.

The New York Times

Other than bruising a spectator with another 150-mile-an-hour serve, Andy Roddick did nearly everything right Sunday when many would have excused him for not doing anything at all.

The New York Times - Sports

The judge refused his request, but when the plaintiff's attorney asked the man whether he could be fair to the plaintiff, he said "No". The end result: The plaintiff's attorney excused him for cause.

Los Angeles Times

Fed as the crisis was growing massively excused him from responsibility for the crisis.

Huffington Post

It certainly doesn't excuse thanking him for "valuable service".

Human Nature

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "excuse him for", clearly state the reason for the request to be excused to provide context and understanding.

Common error

Avoid using "excuse him for" as a blanket statement without specifying the action or behavior. Being specific ensures that the apology is relevant and sincere.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "excuse him for" primarily functions as a request for understanding or forgiveness on behalf of someone else. It is used to mitigate potential offense or to offer an explanation for someone's actions. Ludwig and its AI confirms this usage, showing that it is typically employed to seek leniency or understanding.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "excuse him for" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression to seek understanding or forgiveness for someone's actions. Ludwig AI confirms its appropriate usage, and it appears most frequently in news and media contexts. While versatile, it's important to provide specific context to ensure clarity. Alternatives like "forgive him for" or ""pardon him for"" can be used based on the desired level of formality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

forgive him for

This alternative is very similar in meaning, focusing on the act of forgiving.

pardon him for

This alternative is a more formal way to ask for forgiveness or understanding.

apologize for his

This alternative focuses on offering an apology on his behalf.

make allowances for him because of

This alternative suggests considering special circumstances.

understand his reason for

This alternative emphasizes comprehending the cause behind his action.

overlook his

This alternative suggests ignoring or disregarding a fault or mistake.

justify his

This alternative seeks to find a reason to defend his action.

defend his

This alternative actively supports his behaviour.

attribute it to

This alternative explains his behavior by connecting it to something else.

explain away his

This alternative minimizes importance of negative behaviour.

FAQs

How can I use "excuse him for" in a sentence?

You can use "excuse him for" to politely ask for understanding or forgiveness for someone's actions. For example, "Please "excuse him for" his late arrival; he encountered unexpected traffic."

What is a more formal way to say "excuse him for"?

A more formal alternative to ""excuse him for"" is "pardon him for". For instance, "I "pardon him for" the interruption."

When is it appropriate to use "excuse him for"?

It is appropriate to use ""excuse him for"" when you are seeking understanding or leniency for someone's behavior or absence, especially if they are unable to apologize themselves.

What can I say instead of "excuse him for" to soften the tone?

To soften the tone, you can use phrases like "please understand his reason for" or "forgive him for". For example, "Please forgive him for being so direct; he means well."