excuses

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "excuses" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to justifications or reasons given for a particular action or behavior, often in a context where someone is trying to avoid responsibility. Example: "He always has excuses for not completing his assignments on time."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Sport

Opinion

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"But I don't want to make excuses.

The New York Times - Sports

These events – G20, Commonwealth Games, Expo 88 – are too often used as excuses for cultural events to be gathered around them.

The Guardian - Music

It may be that sanctions against Mugabe and his allies have run their course and become counter-productive, gifting Zanu-PF propaganda and excuses.

The Guardian

But none of this excuses the breathtakingly bad behaviour of a significant minority of cyclists.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

He told reporters: "What we've heard today was a list of excuses from the energy companies".

The Guardian

The left has a stable majority, and no more excuses.

The Guardian - Opinion

He appealed to those who voted for independence in the referendum: "There can be no excuses now: we have the power, the question is do we have the purpose?" The leadership contest was sparked when Johann Lamont stood down in late October after accusing colleagues in Westminster of treating Scotland like a "branch office".

The Guardian

He said it was harder for the Lib Dems, being a smaller party, to improve the diversity of their candidates: "Now, this is going to sound like excuses, it's not.

The Guardian

The excuses churned out for such a game being played at Hampden include the desire for players to appear at the national stadium.

The Guardian - Sport

Each time EE comes up with multiple excuses.

The Guardian - Money

Labour leader Ed Miliband has dismissed the "list of excuses" offered to MPs by energy firms, blaming rising bills on them overcharging hard-pressed customers.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the audience and purpose when choosing between "excuses" and more neutral alternatives like "reasons" or "explanations". In formal writing, avoid using "excuses" if a more objective term is appropriate.

Common error

Avoid simply stating that someone is making "excuses" without offering specific examples or evidence. Support your claim by detailing the reasons given and why they are insufficient or insincere.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "excuses" is as a plural noun. It refers to reasons or explanations offered to justify or mitigate a fault, offense, or failure. Ludwig examples illustrate its use in contexts where reasons are perceived as insincere or inadequate.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

58%

Sport

15%

Opinion

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

9%

Science

3%

Lifestyle

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "excuses" functions as a plural noun, commonly used to express skepticism or disapproval of provided reasons. It carries a neutral to slightly informal register and is very common in news and media, sports, and opinion contexts. Ludwig AI confirms the correctness and usability of "excuses" in written English. Remember to be mindful of the negative connotation when using "excuses", and consider alternative terms like "reasons" or "justifications" for more neutral contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

explanations

Offers a broader term for providing reasons or details to clarify a situation.

justifications

Refers to reasons given to defend or explain actions, often implying a more formal or reasoned approach than "excuses".

defenses

Focuses on arguments used to protect or justify actions, often in a legal or argumentative context.

rationalizations

Suggests attempting to make unacceptable behavior or feelings appear reasonable.

self-justifications

Highlights the act of defending one's own actions or beliefs, often against criticism.

alibis

Specifically refers to a claim or piece of evidence that one was elsewhere when an offense occurred.

cop-outs

Implies avoiding responsibility or commitment through weak or insincere explanations.

pretexts

Implies a false or deceptive reason given to conceal the real one.

pleas

Suggests a request or appeal, often used to mitigate blame or consequences.

escape clauses

Refers to conditions or terms that allow one to avoid fulfilling an obligation or commitment.

FAQs

How can I use "excuses" in a sentence?

You can use "excuses" to refer to reasons given to justify actions or avoid blame. For example: "He always has "excuses" for being late."

What are some alternatives to the word "excuses"?

Depending on the context, you can use "reasons", "justifications", or "rationalizations" as alternatives to "excuses".

What is the difference between "excuses" and "reasons"?

"Reasons" generally refer to genuine explanations, while "excuses" often imply attempts to avoid responsibility or blame. "Excuses" carry a more negative connotation.

When is it appropriate to use the word "excuses"?

Use "excuses" when you want to convey that the reasons given are insincere, inadequate, or intended to avoid accountability. Be mindful of the potentially negative impact.