excuse oneself

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "excuse oneself" is correct and commonly used in written English.
It is typically used when someone needs to politely leave a social or professional situation. For example: "I apologize, but I must excuse myself from the meeting to take an important phone call."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

One can always excuse oneself with the claim that other people's needs are not overriding in any given situation.

SEP

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

In a few years' time, we will, perhaps, automatically offer with every swipe a quick subtitle as to what we are doing, like excusing oneself after sneezing, or giving a running commentary of one's actions to children.

The Guardian - Opinion

Besides tips for excusing oneself from bad blind dates and ending boring old friendships (always over a long period of time), Ms. Martinet has deft call-returning ideas for people who don't want to talk.

The New York Times - Style

What does it mean to turn one's back on oppressive economic structures without completely excusing oneself from the larger community?

Huffington Post

The recession is even effective when making excuses to oneself.

The New York Times

This was believed to be due to their appearance of physical well-being; "The main problems lie with the condition not showing any visible signs and symptoms and often having to explain oneself or making excuses for inabilities".

Health and Quality of Life Outcomes

Hard times and rough circumstances are not excuses for degrading others or allowing oneself to be degraded.

The New York Times

But that truth is no excuse for carrying around excess weight, or deluding oneself into thinking that fat can be healthy.

Huffington Post

Religions provide an institution where one can study ancient teachings and learn from individuals who have done in-depth study of the inner landscape, but religion is not an excuse to stop the process of looking inward for oneself.

Huffington Post

And -- notwithstanding any circumstances or excuses -- attacking people from afar, at no immediate risk to oneself, is cowardly.

Huffington Post

To even raise this kind of question is to open oneself up to charges of not caring about the murdered or making excuses for the murderers.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "excuse oneself" when you need a polite and formal way to leave a situation. For example, "I must excuse myself to take this call."

Common error

Avoid using "excuse oneself" in very casual contexts. Opt for simpler phrases like "I'm going to head out" or "I'll be right back" to maintain a natural tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "excuse oneself" functions as a reflexive verb phrase. It signifies a polite and formal act of withdrawing or departing from a situation. As Ludwig AI confirms, it indicates a person's conscious decision to excuse themselves.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

63%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

12%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the reflexive verb phrase "excuse oneself" is a formal and polite way to indicate one's departure from a situation. As Ludwig AI notes, it's generally grammatically correct and suitable for formal contexts. While alternatives like "beg to be excused" offer similar meanings, "excuse oneself" is best reserved for scenarios where formality is desired. It is frequently used in "News & Media" and "Science". Remember to avoid overusing it in casual environments where simpler phrases would suffice. Ludwig can assist in finding more contextual examples for clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

beg to be excused

This alternative is a more formal and direct way of asking for permission to leave.

ask to be excused

This alternative is a polite way to request permission to leave, often used in formal settings.

take one's leave

This alternative implies a formal departure, often used in ceremonial or traditional contexts.

withdraw oneself

This alternative suggests a deliberate removal from a situation or group, often to avoid involvement.

absent oneself

This alternative means to intentionally not be present, often implying a planned absence.

bow out

This alternative implies a graceful exit, typically from a competition or commitment.

make one's exit

This alternative is a theatrical way of describing a departure, often used humorously.

retire

This alternative means to withdraw from a situation or activity, often due to age or completion of a task.

depart

This alternative simply means to leave, without necessarily implying politeness or formality.

leave

This alternative is the most straightforward way to indicate departure, lacking specific nuances of politeness or formality.

FAQs

How to use "excuse oneself" in a sentence?

Use "excuse oneself" when you need to politely leave a formal setting or conversation. For example, "I must "excuse oneself" to attend to another matter".

What can I say instead of "excuse oneself"?

Alternatives include "beg to be excused", "ask to be excused", or simply "I must leave", depending on the level of formality required.

Is it ever appropriate to use "excuse me" instead of "excuse oneself"?

"Excuse me" is more versatile and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. "Excuse oneself" is specifically for leaving a situation, while "excuse me" can also be used to get someone's attention or apologize for a minor inconvenience.

When is "excuse oneself" too formal?

"Excuse oneself" might sound overly formal in very casual settings. In those situations, simpler phrases like "I'm going to go" or "I'll be back" are more appropriate.