insufficient justification for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'insufficient justification for' is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use this phrase when you need to convey that the arguments or evidence being used are not enough to support something. For example, "The committee found that there was insufficient justification for increasing the budget."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

15 human-written examples

"Having viewed all the available evidence, the IPCC felt there was insufficient justification for his actions.

The Guardian

This was an insufficient justification for suppressing commercial speech, the court said in Thompson v.

The New York Times

But the neatness of the programming offered insufficient justification for Theodore Wiprud's "My Last Duchess," in its first performance.

The New York Times - Arts

"After careful consideration, our judgment was that Qantas Loyalty continued to offer major profitable growth opportunities, and there was insufficient justification for a partial sale," Joyce said.

The Guardian - Business

This research suggests that behavior inconsistent with one's beliefs if there is insufficient justification for the behaviour will often bring about modification of those beliefs.

Encyclopedia Britannica

It also held that the agency had offered insufficient justification for the rule preventing any one owner of stations from reaching more than 35percentt of the nation's TV households.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

44 human-written examples

For example, simply stating that an analyzed enzyme plays a central role in a given pathway is an insufficient justification.

BMC Evolutionary Biology

"Ofcom was concerned that there was insufficient editorial justification for the manner and frequency of the repeated references to the CC brand during the interview and, as such, the references were judged to be unduly prominent".

The Guardian

Mr. Olson, who is not a regular churchgoer, began to elaborate on his view that religious beliefs were insufficient legal justification for government to refuse to recognize same-sex marriage, but soon paused.

The New York Times

Even if individually insufficient as justifications for adopting theological voluntarism, collectively they may suggest some desiderata for a moral view: that God must be at the center of a moral theory, and, in particular, that the realm of the moral must be dependent on God's free choices.

SEP

Third, why should a critic who regards simple reliable causation as insufficient for justification be satisfied with any higher-order requirements?

SEP

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "insufficient justification for", ensure you clearly articulate why the justification is lacking. Providing specific reasons strengthens your argument.

Common error

Avoid using overly strong language when stating that there is "insufficient justification for" something if the situation is nuanced. Consider softening the statement with phrases like "limited justification" or "questionable basis" if the justification is not entirely absent.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "insufficient justification for" functions as a qualifier, indicating that the provided reasons or evidence do not adequately support a claim, action, or decision. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and common usage.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

56%

Science

28%

Encyclopedias

6%

Less common in

Formal & Business

6%

Social Media

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "insufficient justification for" is a phrase used to express a lack of adequate reasoning or evidence to support a claim or action. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and suitability for written English. The phrase appears most frequently in news and media, scientific publications, and encyclopedias. When using the phrase, it is important to be specific about the reasons why the justification is lacking. Alternatives like "inadequate rationale for" or "lacking sufficient grounds for" can be used to convey a similar meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

inadequate rationale for

Replaces "justification" with "rationale", suggesting a less formal or structured reasoning.

unwarranted basis for

Emphasizes the lack of a solid foundation or warrant for something.

lacking sufficient grounds for

Highlights the absence of enough evidence or reasons to support something.

not enough evidence to support

Focuses specifically on the absence of supporting evidence.

without adequate cause for

Emphasizes the absence of a valid reason or cause.

poorly supported reason for

Indicates that the reason provided is weak or unconvincing.

tenuous grounds for

Implies that the basis for something is weak, shaky, or easily challenged.

unconvincing rationale for

Highlights that the reasoning provided is not persuasive or believable.

weak support for

Directly points out the weakness in the supporting arguments or evidence.

limited basis for

Suggests that the foundation or reason is restricted or incomplete.

FAQs

How can I use "insufficient justification for" in a sentence?

You can use "insufficient justification for" to express that there is not enough evidence or reasoning to support a particular action or decision. For example, "The committee concluded that there was "insufficient justification for" the proposed changes."

What are some alternatives to saying "insufficient justification for"?

Some alternatives to "insufficient justification for" include "inadequate rationale for", "lacking sufficient grounds for", and "without adequate cause for".

Is it better to say "insufficient justification for" or "lack of justification for"?

"Insufficient justification for" and "lack of justification for" are similar, but "insufficient justification for" implies that some attempt at justification was made, but it was inadequate. "Lack of justification for" simply states that there is no justification at all.

What does "insufficient justification for" mean in a legal context?

In a legal context, "insufficient justification for" means that the arguments or evidence presented are not strong enough to meet the required legal standard for a particular action or ruling.