excuses such as

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "excuses such as" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when providing examples of specific excuses in a discussion or argument. Example: "He often uses excuses such as being too busy or not having enough resources to justify his lack of progress."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

26 human-written examples

Excuses such as "it's really hard" aren't going to suffice.

The Guardian - Sport

Excuses such as "But it's 2am" won't be accepted.

The Guardian - Sport

It is wrong to hide behind excuses such as the potential cost of fighting an appeal.

The Guardian

Nasrin Sotoudeh, Iran's most prominent human rights laywer, said the Iranian authorities had treated rights violations as a low priority for many years, citing various excuses such as war or international isolation.

The Guardian

As the single man reveals himself for their inspection, the girls will snap their lights off in horror, giving excuses such as, "He's called Kevin, we had a dog called Kevin".

The Guardian - TV & Radio

He also declined to hide behind flimsy excuses such as the British team's strict dress code, which forbade him from wearing his lucky old school rugby socks, now older than four of his crew-mates.

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

34 human-written examples

But until the early 1990s most states let people vote by post only if they had a good excuse, such as disability or illness.

The Economist

Well into the twentieth century, French women had to petition the prefect of police to wear pants in public, except on the stage, and permission was granted only when they had some plausible excuse, such as mountain climbing.

The New Yorker

Most of the time they come up with some ridiculous excuse, such as you're a fire hazard, but they will at least try to be polite about it, but this time, this guy actually called me a 'fucking cripple'.

The Guardian

While it might be acceptable for your male colleagues to leave the office early to pick up their children from school, you'll probably want to invent some sort of elaborate excuse, such as a sinkhole swallowing your entire home or your football team playing away.

The Guardian

"Sometimes I've been dumped by my taxi drivers after I tell them my destination," says Zhang, or "the drivers find some excuse, such as 'I am now off duty' or 'My taxi is out of gas.'" And they wondered: From the driver's point of view, how could it make sense to turn down a paying customer?

Science Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "excuses such as", ensure the examples provided are clear and directly relevant to the point being made. This enhances clarity and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid listing overly general or weak examples after "excuses such as". Instead, provide specific and compelling reasons to strengthen your argument.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "excuses such as" functions as an introductory phrase to provide examples of justifications. As shown in Ludwig, this phrase is used to introduce explanations that might be seen as attempts to mitigate blame or justify actions.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Wiki

25%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

6%

Encyclopedias

6%

Social Media

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "excuses such as" is a common and grammatically correct way to introduce examples of justifications, often with a subtle implication of doubt or skepticism. Ludwig AI indicates that the phrase is most frequently used in News & Media, Wiki, and Science contexts, maintaining a neutral register. When using this phrase, ensure your examples are specific and relevant to avoid weakening your argument. Always choose the phrasing most suited to the intended tone, considering alternatives if a less skeptical approach is desired.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

such as for example

Reorders the phrase, emphasizing the exemplary nature.

like for example

More informal and direct in presenting examples.

typical examples include

Highlights typical instances as examples.

for instance like

Changes the structure while implying examples, more informal.

namely for example

A more formal way to specify examples.

including examples like

Emphasizes the inclusion of examples within a set.

reasons such as the following

Provides a more formal introduction to a list of reasons.

for reasons including

Shifts focus to reasons with a more formal tone.

to illustrate with

Emphasizes illustration through examples.

on grounds that include

Introduces a formal justification with examples.

FAQs

How can I use "excuses such as" in a sentence?

You can use "excuses such as" to introduce specific examples of justifications or reasons. For instance, "He offered "excuses such as" a flat tire and a sudden illness for his absence".

What are some alternatives to "excuses such as"?

Alternatives include phrases like "reasons such as", "justifications including", or "for example" depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to use "excuses such as" in formal writing?

Yes, "excuses such as" is appropriate in formal writing, but ensure the examples you provide are well-supported and relevant.

What's the difference between "excuses such as" and "reasons such as"?

"Excuses such as" implies potential invalidity or skepticism, while "reasons such as" suggests more legitimate or acceptable justifications.