in excuse for

USAGE SUMMARY

"in excuse for" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when justifying or providing a reason for an action or behavior. Example: "He offered a late submission in excuse for his absence." Alternative expressions include "in justification of" and "as an explanation for."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

The "expected and therefore fully priced in" excuse for an unchanged market does not work.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

"It's like a built-in excuse for everything," he said.

The New York Times

The embargo provided Mr. Castro with a built-in excuse for his own failed economic policies and ruthless political repression.

The New York Times

The use of such a distancing device, with its built-in excuse for dramaturgical lapses, is understandable.

The New York Times

"If companies were looking for a built-in excuse for an earnings disappointment, they've found it," said Jack A. Ablin, chief investment officer at BMO Private Bank.

The New York Times

"I would always hold a large drink of cold ice water, so I would have a built-in excuse for my hands' being cold or wet".

The New York Times - Health

He would have a built-in excuse for changing the name.

Huffington Post

The dynamics of the race pretty much guarantee that there will be a built-in excuse for the faithful to latch onto, should the Democrats win in November.

Huffington Post

The Mets had a built-in excuse in scraping for runs at times against the formidable Braves pitching staff.

The New York Times - Sports

One used it, and one kind of tossed it in as an excuse for showing up.

The New Yorker

Its in-seat terminals far surpass any excuse for in-flight entertainment presented by other airlines.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "in excuse for" when you want to offer a reason, sometimes implying a slight inadequacy or defensiveness, for an action or situation. For example, "He offered a late submission "in excuse for" his absence."

Common error

Avoid relying too heavily on "in excuse for" in formal writing; consider more direct and professional alternatives like "to justify" or "as an explanation for" to maintain a stronger tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "in excuse for" primarily functions as a prepositional phrase introducing the reason or justification for something. It often implies that the reason provided may be weak or defensive. Ludwig examples support this usage.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

25%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Academia

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "in excuse for" functions as a prepositional phrase used to introduce a reason or justification, often carrying a slightly defensive tone. While grammatically correct, it's not very common and alternatives may exist that are considered more appropriate based on register. As per Ludwig AI, this phrase follows standard grammatical rules and it is generally considered correct to use, but writers should keep register and tone in mind.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

as an explanation for

This is a more neutral and direct way of offering a reason.

as justification for

This phrase is slightly more formal and emphasizes the act of justifying.

to justify

This is a more direct and formal way of saying "to provide a reason for".

to give a reason for

This is a more verbose but simpler way of expressing the same idea.

as a pretext for

This phrase implies a more deceptive or less genuine reason than "in excuse for".

on the grounds of

This phrase presents a more formal or legalistic reason.

in defense of

This phrase is specifically used when defending an action or belief.

by way of apology for

This phrase specifically relates to apologizing and offering an explanation for a fault.

to rationalize

This option suggests finding a seemingly logical reason, which might not be the real one.

under the guise of

This phrase implies a deceptive or misleading reason.

FAQs

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

Use "in excuse for" to introduce a reason or justification for something. For example: "She offered a detailed explanation "in excuse for" her delayed response."

What are some alternatives to "in excuse for"?

You can use alternatives like "as an explanation for", "to justify", or "as justification for" depending on the context.

Is there a difference between "in excuse for" and "as an excuse for"?

"In excuse for" suggests a reason or justification, while "as an excuse for" often implies that the reason is weak or not genuine. Consider the nuance you wish to convey.

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

It's appropriate when you need to provide a reason, often defensively, for a specific action or situation. For more formal contexts, consider using a phrase like "in justification of".