justifying why

USAGE SUMMARY

'justifying why' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you need to explain why something is the case. For example: "We need to provide evidence justifying why the new policy should be implemented."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

45 human-written examples

Respected figures find themselves defending discredited theories or justifying why they failed to see trouble coming.

The Economist

Economists, in contrast, proffered theoretical arguments justifying why medical care was best provided using market-like mechanisms.

Accounting, Organizations and Society

They then spent an hour justifying why everything that they were doing was critical and couldn't be stopped.

Harvard Business Review

When granting a public interest waiver, the Administrator shall issue a detailed written statement justifying why the waiver is in the public interest.

Cornell University

Earl Ward, McNamee's lawyer, said Thursday that McNamee lied to the investigators as a way of justifying why he had turned on Clemens and Andy Pettitte.

The New York Times

"People lead very fragmented lives," Iñárritu told one journalist, justifying why he should want to tie together such different stories in 21 Grams.

The Guardian - Film

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

15 human-written examples

That justified why I carried on.

The Guardian - Sport

"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

The paper presents mechatronic procedure of parallel manipulators development and justifies why only such approach can lead to successes.

IFAC Proceedings Volumes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To enhance the impact of your writing, consider varying your vocabulary by using synonyms like "explaining the reason for" or "giving a rationale for" instead of repeatedly using "justifying why".

Common error

Avoid using "justifying the reason why" as it is redundant. The word "why" already implies a reason, so stating "reason why" is unnecessary. Instead, stick to "justifying why" or "justifying the reason".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "justifying why" functions as a gerund phrase acting as an adverbial modifier. It describes the action of providing reasons or explanations, often to defend or legitimize a decision or action. Ludwig AI indicates that it's considered correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

46%

Science

35%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "justifying why" serves to provide a rationale or explanation, often defensively, for a specific action or decision. As Ludwig AI confirms, its grammatical correctness and common usage across news, scientific, and academic domains make it a versatile choice for writers. Remember to avoid redundancy by excluding "reason" when using "justifying why". Varying your language with alternatives like "explaining the reason for" or "giving a rationale for" enhances writing impact, maintaining clarity and authority.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

presenting a justification for

Stresses the formal act of offering reasons to defend an action or belief.

providing an explanation for

Highlights offering details to make something understandable.

giving a rationale for

Emphasizes providing a logical basis or justification.

explaining the reason for

Focuses on providing a clear account of the cause or motive.

defending the grounds for

Highlights providing reasons that support a particular position or action against criticism.

accounting for the reasons behind

Implies a thorough and detailed explanation of the underlying factors.

elucidating the motives for

Focuses on making the driving forces or intentions clear and understandable.

substantiating the basis for

Emphasizes providing evidence to support the foundation or reasoning behind something.

rationalizing the cause of

Highlights making something appear reasonable or acceptable, potentially after the fact.

motivating the reason for

Focuses on the impetus or drive behind an action or decision, showing what prompted it.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "justifying why"?

You can use alternatives such as "explaining the reason for", "providing an explanation for", or "giving a rationale for", depending on the specific context.

Is it redundant to say "justifying the reason why"?

Yes, using "justifying the reason why" is redundant. It's more concise and grammatically correct to simply use "justifying why".

In what contexts is "justifying why" commonly used?

"Justifying why" is commonly used in formal writing, academic papers, news articles, and professional communications when providing a rationale or defense for a particular action or decision. It is often present in "scientific", "academic", and "news and media" contexts.

What is the difference between "justifying why" and "explaining why"?

While both phrases involve providing reasons, "justifying why" often implies a need to defend or legitimize a decision or action, whereas "explaining why" is a more neutral term simply conveying information or reasons without necessarily implying a need for defense.