justify why

USAGE SUMMARY

"justify why" is a correct phrase to use in written English.
You can use it when you want to explain or demonstrate the reasons behind an opinion or belief. For example: "Justify why you think this policy should be implemented."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"You have to justify why you do things.

The New York Times

The features of the software are elaborated, which justify why they were preferred over other software.

Applied Control Theory for Embedded Systems

No woman should have to justify why she wants children later in life.

The New York Times

IHMS has simply tried to justify why its performance shouldn't be measured for the month".

The Guardian

Each quango needed to justify why it had to remain at arm's length from government.

The Guardian

"Every 9 months, every 18 months, you have to justify why the money is still needed.

The New York Times

"You're attempting to justify why you're tracking your users, but you're still tracking them".

The Guardian - Tech

"It's just hard to justify why anyone would be against disclosure".

The New York Times

When proposing new rates for 2016, insurers have to justify why they are seeking price increases.

The Guardian

All the money was shared and you had to justify why you needed it.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Looters found it harder to justify why they broke into small, independent retailers.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "justify why", ensure that the reasons you provide are logical, well-supported, and directly relevant to the claim or action being justified.

Common error

Avoid using "justify why" when a simpler form like "justify" or "explain why" suffices. The inclusion of "why" after "justify" can sometimes be redundant, especially if the context already implies a reason.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "justify why" functions as a verb phrase that introduces an explanation or rationale. It serves to explicitly request or provide reasons for a particular action, decision, or belief. Ludwig provides numerous examples that illustrate its use across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Science

30%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "justify why" is a grammatically correct and very common expression used to request or provide reasons for a decision, action, or belief. While technically redundant, as "justify" inherently implies providing reasons, the inclusion of "why" is widespread across diverse contexts, including News & Media, Science, and Academia. Ludwig confirms that it's a correct and acceptable phrase. When employing "justify why", ensure that your reasons are logical and well-supported and that you are aware that "explain why" can often be a preferred alternative.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

explain why

Focuses on making something clear and understandable.

rationalize why

Suggests an attempt to find logical reasons, sometimes to excuse or defend something.

give reasons for

Emphasizes the act of providing a justification or explanation.

provide justification for

Highlights the need for a formal or official explanation.

defend the reason for

Implies advocating for a specific cause or action.

account for

Used when providing a comprehensive explanation.

show grounds for

Indicates the act of demonstrating a valid basis or foundation.

elucidate the reasons behind

Focuses on clarifying the underlying motives or causes.

validate the purpose of

Emphasizes confirming the legitimacy or correctness of a goal.

substantiate the rationale for

Highlights the need for empirical evidence to support a reasoning.

FAQs

How can I use "justify why" in a sentence?

Use "justify why" to explain the reasons behind a decision or action, as in "He had to "justify why" he made that choice to the board."

What are some alternatives to "justify why"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives such as "explain why", "rationalize why", or "give reasons for".

Is it redundant to say "justify why"?

While technically redundant because "justify" already implies providing reasons, ""justify why"" is a commonly used phrase in both formal and informal contexts and Ludwig confirms that it is correct.

What's the difference between "justify" and ""justify why""?

The word "justify" means to show or prove to be right or reasonable. "Justify why" includes the explicit question of reasons to provide a more conversational feel but may be seen as slightly redundant.