justifying

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "justifying" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when explaining or providing reasons for a decision, action, or belief. Example: "The report includes a section justifying the need for additional funding for the project."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

When justifying a longer or more expensive commute, workers will generally seek higher wages in order to compensate for their loss of leisure time.

The Guardian

Not quite a masterstroke on Hodgson's part, but not far off and fully justifying the manager's belief that Sweden might be susceptible to defending crosses.

The Guardian - Sport

Section 30 of the Crime (Sentences) Act 1997 already allows a secretary of state to free a life prisoner on licence if there are exceptional circumstances justifying the prisoner's release on compassionate grounds.

The Guardian

In justifying the desire for a new city, Madbouly said that something had to be done to lighten the load on Cairo, whose projected population will be 40 million by 2050.

The Guardian

Justifying a subsidy for solar on the basis that there are other subsidies in Australia is hardly a justification.

The Guardian - Opinion

Former Crew midfielder Cole Grossman managed to provide that certainty, justifying Garth Lagerwey's decision to deal Yordany Alvarez this winter.

The Guardian - Sport

In justifying his decision, the prosecutor said Palfreeman, who was sentenced in 2009 for a stabbing murder, had served "limited" time in jail and had been "repeatedly sanctioned" for bad behaviour by prison authorities.

The Guardian

From then on, each time they went to the centre they were encouraged to write down what they hoped to achieve the following week, rather than justifying their previous performance in applying for jobs.

The Guardian

There seems no end to Angela Merkel's troubles: first the Euro crisis and then the completely unexpected resignation of the president, Horst Köhler, a former International Monetary Fund (IMF) official who had been handpicked by the German chancellor in 2004 and who had been expected to play an important role in justifying the belt-tightening in the wake of the financial crisis.

The Guardian - Opinion

I'm not justifying it, I'm explaining it I'm justifying it.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

Wilson was loquacious, self-justifying, scornful, though anxious to please, fundamentally warm-hearted.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "justifying", ensure your reasons are logically sound and supported by evidence. Avoid circular reasoning or unsupported claims.

Common error

Avoid over-justifying a point, as it can make you appear defensive or uncertain. State your reasons clearly and concisely without excessive explanation.

Linguistic Context

"Justifying" functions primarily as a verb in its present participle form, indicating an ongoing action of providing reasons or explanations to defend or support something. Ludwig's examples show its versatility in various sentence structures and contexts, reinforcing its role as an active verb form.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "justifying" is a versatile term primarily functioning as a present participle or gerund, used to provide reasons or explanations to defend or support something. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is grammatically correct and frequently appears in news and media, formal business, and scientific contexts. To enhance clarity in writing, consider using alternatives such as "rationalizing" or "defending" depending on the specific nuances you wish to convey. Remember to support your justifications with sound logic and evidence, and avoid over-justification to maintain a confident and concise tone.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

rationalizing

Similar in meaning, but often implies a more subjective or self-serving justification.

defending

Focuses more on protecting or supporting an action or idea against criticism.

explaining

Offers a reason or clarification, without necessarily implying approval or acceptance.

vindicating

Suggests clearing someone of blame or suspicion, proving their actions were right.

substantiating

Emphasizes providing evidence to support a claim or action.

warranting

Indicates that something makes a particular action necessary or appropriate.

giving reasons for

A more explicit and less formal way of expressing the act of justifying.

providing a rationale for

Implies a more formal and structured explanation of the underlying principles.

accounting for

Focuses on providing an explanation for why something happened or exists.

legitimizing

Suggests making something acceptable or valid, often in a social or political context.

FAQs

How can I use "justifying" in a sentence?

You can use "justifying" as a present participle (e.g., "He was "justifying his actions"") or as a gerund (e.g., "Justifying the cost requires a detailed analysis").

What are some alternatives to "justifying"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "rationalizing", "defending", or "explaining".

Is there a difference between "justifying" and "rationalizing"?

"Justifying" generally implies providing objective reasons, while "rationalizing" often suggests a more subjective or self-serving explanation.

When is it appropriate to use "justifying" in formal writing?

"Justifying" is appropriate in formal writing when you need to provide a clear and logical explanation for a decision, action, or policy.