justified by

USAGE SUMMARY

"justified by" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate that something is supported by facts or reason. For example, "The decision to close the school was justified by concerns about the spread of the virus."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"It was justified by nothing.

The New York Times

(ii) Was otherwise justified by business necessity.

Cornell University

These results are justified by flow analysis.

Journal of Colloid and Interface Science

The longlist was justified by the judges.

The Guardian - Books

So it's very much justified by the work they're doing.

Stanford University

These restrictions also are not justified by scientific evidence.

The New York Times

Such deaths are usually justified by officers as self-defence.

The Guardian

But 3. is not justified by 1. and 2.

The Guardian - Opinion

This is justified by their different levels of development.

The Guardian

What they see cannot be justified by appeals to patriotism.

The Guardian - Opinion

This is justified by an ideology of choice.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "justified by", ensure the reason or evidence you provide truly supports the action or decision being justified. Avoid using it to rationalize questionable choices.

Common error

Avoid using "justified by" to mask weak arguments. A strong justification should be supported by concrete evidence and logical reasoning, not just a vague appeal.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "justified by" functions as a prepositional phrase that modifies a verb or noun, indicating the reason or basis for an action, decision, or belief. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is used to provide a rationale or defense, often implying that something is reasonable or acceptable due to the stated reason.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

36%

Science

34%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "justified by" is a very common prepositional phrase used to explain the reason or basis for an action or decision. As affirmed by Ludwig AI, this phrase is grammatically correct and widely applicable across various registers, from formal academic writing to neutral news reporting. Its primary function is to provide justification or rationale, making it an essential tool for constructing logical and persuasive arguments. When using "justified by", ensure that the reasons or evidence provided genuinely support the claim being made to strengthen your point.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

supported by

Focuses on evidence or data backing something up; less about moral or ethical justification.

based on

Highlights the foundation upon which something is built or decided.

warranted by

Suggests that something is officially or formally permitted or required.

excused by

Implies that an action is wrong but has mitigating circumstances.

explained by

Focuses on providing reasons or causes for something, rather than justifying it.

predicated on

Indicates that something is fundamentally based or dependent on a particular condition or assumption.

grounded in

Emphasizes a firm foundation in a specific set of principles or facts.

vindicated by

Highlights that something has been proven to be correct or reasonable after initial doubt.

rationalized by

Implies a constructed justification, possibly after the fact, rather than an inherent reason.

accounted for by

Focuses on the factors or reasons that explain why something exists or happens.

FAQs

How can I use "justified by" in a sentence?

Use "justified by" to explain why an action or decision is reasonable or correct. For instance, "The budget cuts were "justified by" the economic downturn".

What are some alternatives to "justified by"?

You can use alternatives such as "supported by", "based on", or "warranted by" depending on the specific context.

Is it better to say "justified by" or "justified because of"?

"Justified by" is generally more concise and direct. "Justified because of" is grammatically correct but can sometimes sound redundant. The choice depends on the desired emphasis and flow of the sentence.

What's the difference between "justified by" and "rationalized by"?

"Justified by" implies a legitimate reason or evidence, whereas "rationalized by" often suggests a constructed or post-hoc explanation that may not be entirely valid.