it was not justified

USAGE SUMMARY

The sentence 'it was not justified' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to express that something was not reasonable or acceptable. For example: "The company's decision to lay off hundreds of employees without notice was not justified."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

It was not justified.

The Guardian - Business

Nobody understood because it was not justified.

The New York Times - Sports

Microsoft challenged the warrant, arguing it was not justified by law or the Constitution.

The Washington Post

The consolidation plan was eventually overturned by a federal judge, who said it was not justified.

The New York Times

But his decision was reversed by a higher court on the ground that it was not justified under existing law.

The New York Times

A majority of Americans view the bombings as justified to end the war and save US lives, while the vast majority of Japanese believe it was not justified.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

But, he says, it wasn't justified.

The Guardian - Film

Whatever caused that brief 1,000-point 1,000-pointe Dow, it waswoonjustinied by acthel events in Europe.

The New York Times

Some challenged the government's decision to make Thursday a national day of mourning, saying it wasn't justified since the victims were predominantly Roma.

The New York Times

"There are some things I look at now and think, no, it wasn't justified to charge that much to the taxpayer – for example, £500 for a sink".

The Guardian

There are some things I look at now and think, 'No it wasn't justified to charge that much to the taxpayer.'" Such as? "The sink.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "it was not justified", ensure the context clearly indicates what "it" refers to. This avoids ambiguity and strengthens your argument.

Common error

Avoid using "it was not justified" in overly complex sentences where the subject and reason are too far apart. Break down the sentence for clarity and impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it was not justified" functions as a declarative statement expressing a negative evaluation. It asserts that a specific action, decision, or situation lacked adequate reason or evidence to be considered acceptable. Ludwig AI confirms the validity of this phrase.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "it was not justified" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase to express that something lacked sufficient reason or evidence. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and widespread use. It appears most commonly in news, science, and business contexts. Related phrases include "it lacked justification" and "it was unwarranted". When using this phrase, ensure clarity by clearly defining what "it" refers to and avoid complex sentence structures that obscure its meaning. With a strong expert rating, this phrase proves to be a reliable choice in both formal and informal writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it was unjustified

Direct synonym, maintaining similar tone and register.

it had no justification

Similar meaning, slightly more direct and active.

it lacked justification

Replaces the passive voice with an active construction, focusing on the absence of justification.

it was unwarranted

Emphasizes that the action was unnecessary and inappropriate.

there was no basis for it

Highlights the absence of a foundation or rationale.

it was indefensible

Stresses the inability to defend or justify the action.

it could not be defended

Emphasizes the impossibility of providing a valid defense.

it was not legitimate

Focuses on the lack of legality or authorization.

it was groundless

Highlights the lack of factual or logical support.

it was unsupported

Emphasizes the lack of evidence or backing.

FAQs

What can I say instead of "it was not justified"?

You can use alternatives like "it lacked justification", "it was unwarranted", or "there was no basis for it" depending on the context.

How do I use "it was not justified" in a sentence?

Use "it was not justified" to express that a particular action, decision, or belief lacked sufficient reason or evidence to be considered acceptable or reasonable. For example, "The company's decision to lay off employees without prior notice, it was not justified."

Is "it wasn't justified" a correct alternative to "it was not justified"?

Yes, "it wasn't justified" is a contracted form of "it was not justified" and is perfectly acceptable, especially in informal contexts. Both phrases carry the same meaning.

What's the difference between "it was not justified" and "it is not justified"?

"It was not justified" refers to a past action or decision, while "it is not justified" refers to a present or ongoing situation. For example, "The decision to invade the country, it was not justified" (past), versus "The continued occupation, it is not justified" (present).