justifying it on

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "justifying it on" is not correct in standard written English.
It may be intended to convey the act of providing reasons or explanations for something, but the preposition "on" is not typically used in this context. Example: "He struggled with justifying his decision to the committee."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

Sharing sounds nice, but in reality this means taking a job off one person (who is old) and justifying it on the basis you might (but only might) give it to another (who is young).

The Guardian - Money

In its court papers, the S.E.C. also defended the "neither confirm nor deny language" in settlements, justifying it on the grounds that it allows the agency to resolve the case in a speedy manner and succeeds in "clearly conveying" that the alleged conduct by Citigroup did in fact occur.

The New York Times

Nonetheless, Goris upheld his belief, justifying it on a number of indications.

Huffington Post

I'm not justifying it on a moral level—I think there are plenty of things that, on a moral level, are abhorrent on all sides but that doesn't mean that there are no reasons why they happen.

Vice

RacIsts Are Rampaging Through Israel.

Vice

And the reason that people in the Gaza strip are using rockets: there is a reason for that, and I'm not justifying it on a moral level – I think there are plenty of things that, on a moral level, are abhorrent on all sides – but that doesn't mean that there are no reasons why they happen.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

We can slap women on live TV, and justify it on Facebook posts afterwards.

The Guardian - Opinion

"We justify it on the basis that we are supporting the democratic process in the country".

The Guardian

You cannot rationally justify it on the basis of the science and technology we get out of it".

The Guardian

It provides for the creation of a single public service and justifies it on grounds of efficiency.

The Guardian - Opinion

This could make employers who check for drugs vulnerable to legal action, although they might be able to justify it on health and safety grounds.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming to justify an action or decision, opt for the prepositions "by" or "with" instead of "on". For example, use "justifying it by providing evidence" or "justifying it with supporting data".

Common error

Avoid using the preposition "on" when you mean to indicate the means or method of justification. Using "on" in this context is grammatically incorrect. Choose "by" or "with" for accurate expression.

Linguistic Context

Justifying it on functions as a verb phrase where 'justifying' is a verb form (gerund or participle) acting to provide reasons or defense, 'it' is a pronoun representing the object being justified, and 'on' is a preposition incorrectly connecting the justification to a basis or ground. Ludwig AI indicates that it's not correct in standard written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "justifying it on" is considered grammatically incorrect in standard written English, as noted by Ludwig. While it appears in some contexts, primarily in News & Media, it's advisable to use alternatives like "justifying it by" or "basing it on". The intended purpose is to provide reasons or defenses for something. When aiming for clarity and grammatical correctness, remember to choose the appropriate preposition.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

justifying it by

Indicates the means or method used for justification. This is a grammatically correct alternative.

justifying it with

Highlights the specific evidence or reasons used to support the justification. This is a grammatically correct alternative.

basing it on

Emphasizes using something as a foundation or starting point for justification. The difference is the focus on the foundational aspect.

defending it on the basis of

Suggests a more forceful assertion of justification, often in response to criticism. It adds an element of defending against opposition.

arguing for it on the grounds of

Implies a formal presentation of justification, typically involving reasoning and evidence. It suggests a more elaborate and persuasive approach.

rationalizing it through

Suggests finding a reason, sometimes post-hoc, to make something seem acceptable. It can imply a less objective and more subjective justification.

explaining it by pointing to

Focuses on elucidating the reasons or factors that support the justification. This alternative emphasizes explanation and clarity.

motivating it through

Highlights the underlying reasons or desires that drive the justification. It emphasizes the motivational aspect behind the action or decision.

legitimizing it via

Implies making something officially or morally acceptable. It focuses on the process of validation and authorization.

vindicating it through

Suggests clearing something of blame or suspicion by providing justification. This alternative emphasizes the aspect of proving innocence or correctness.

FAQs

How can I correctly use "justifying" in a sentence?

Use "justifying" with prepositions like "by" or "with". For example, "He was justifying his actions by providing evidence" or "She was justifying her decision with data".

What prepositions should I use with "justify"?

The most common and grammatically correct prepositions to use with "justify" are "by" and "with". Avoid using "on" in this context.

What's a better way to say "justifying it on"?

Consider using phrases like "justifying it by" or "basing it on". These alternatives are grammatically correct and convey a similar meaning.

Is "justifying it on" grammatically correct?

No, "justifying it on" is not considered grammatically correct in standard English. It's better to use "justifying it by" or "justifying it with" instead.