possible excuse

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "possible excuse" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing a reason or justification that may be acceptable or plausible in a given situation. Example: "He offered a possible excuse for his tardiness, claiming that traffic had been unusually heavy that morning."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

29 human-written examples

There is no possible excuse for this number of casualties".

The New York Times

For example, it's the best possible excuse not to exercise.

The New York Times

"The mining industry will use any possible excuse to attack the environmental movement," he said.

The Guardian

"We don't want any possible excuse for shutting us down," an activist, Brendan Crill, told conferencegoers.

The New York Times

Doing so would increase pressure on wealthy governments to deliver and take away at least one possible excuse for inaction.

The New York Times

"The only possible excuse [for speaking out] is that I and I alone stopped the privatisation last time.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

30 human-written examples

But Landis backed away from those possible excuses yesterday, saying he felt forced to quickly come up with answers for people who might assume he was guilty.

The New York Times - Sports

The handle Logeur du Daesh, Daesh Landlord, churns out ludicrous possible excuses for missing the fact that his tenants were terrorists: "They told me they were gonna drop something heavy I thought it was a mixtape".

The Guardian

He avoided any of the possible excuses for yesterday's loss, including the hot, humid weather and the fact that he and Ivanisevic didn't have much time to practice together.

The New York Times - Sports

Former England captain Lewis Moody, who toured New Zealand with the Lions in 2005, believes Warren Gatland's team will see the decision as a "positive" because it removes any possible excuses for the hosts.

BBC

Sometimes we are confident that someone has done wrong; other times we let our anger hamper our imagination and our generosity in searching for possible excuses for apparent wrongdoing.

SEP

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "possible excuse", consider the connotation you wish to convey. "Excuse" can sometimes imply a weak or inadequate justification. Opt for alternatives like "reason" or "explanation" if you want to sound more neutral.

Common error

Avoid using "possible excuse" repeatedly as a means to rationalize a lack of progress or responsibility. Instead, focus on proactive solutions and clear communication of challenges.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "possible excuse" functions as a noun phrase that describes a potential justification for an action or inaction. It is used to introduce a reason that may or may not be valid or acceptable. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

79%

Wiki

8%

Science

4%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "possible excuse" is a commonly used noun phrase that introduces a potential justification for an action or situation. Ludwig AI indicates that the phrase is grammatically correct and acceptable in written English. While it is frequently found in news and media contexts, it is crucial to consider the connotation of "excuse", which can imply weakness or inadequacy. Therefore, alternatives like "reason" or "explanation" may be more suitable in certain situations. Avoid overusing the phrase to rationalize inaction; instead, focus on proactive solutions. By understanding these nuances, you can effectively use "possible excuse" to provide context and soften criticism, while ensuring your communication remains clear and responsible.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

potential reason

Substitutes "excuse" for "reason", offering a neutral alternative, and "possible" for "potential", indicating capability.

plausible justification

Swaps "excuse" for "justification" and "possible" for "plausible", suggesting a more defensible reason.

conceivable explanation

Uses "explanation" instead of "excuse" to suggest a more detailed account, and "conceivable" instead of "possible", focusing on believability.

acceptable rationale

Replaces "excuse" with "rationale", implying a reasoned basis, and "possible" with "acceptable", indicating suitability.

tenable justification

Substitutes "excuse" for "justification", suggesting moral or legal defensibility, and "possible" for "tenable", indicating sustainability.

feasible alibi

Replaces "excuse" with "alibi", implying an attempt to evade blame, and "possible" with "feasible", indicating practicality.

believable account

Uses "account" instead of "excuse" to suggest a narrative of events, and "believable" instead of "possible", focusing on credibility.

valid pretext

Swaps "excuse" for "pretext", which can suggest a deceptive motive, and "possible" with "valid", conveying legitimacy.

credible defense

Replaces "excuse" with "defense", framing the reason as an argument against accusation, and "possible" with "credible", emphasizing believability.

legitimate mitigation

Replaces "excuse" with "mitigation", implying a reduction in severity or blame, and "possible" with "legitimate", suggesting lawfulness.

FAQs

How can I use "possible excuse" in a sentence?

You can use "possible excuse" to introduce a reason that someone might offer to justify their actions, such as, "He offered a "possible excuse" for being late, citing heavy traffic".

What's a more formal alternative to "possible excuse"?

For a more formal tone, consider using "plausible justification" or "feasible explanation", which convey a more reasoned and defensible reason.

Is it better to say "possible excuse" or "potential excuse"?

Both "possible excuse" and "potential excuse" are acceptable, but "possible excuse" is slightly more common. "Potential excuse" emphasizes that the reason is only a possibility, while "possible excuse" simply states that a reason could exist.

When is it inappropriate to use "possible excuse"?

It may be inappropriate to use "possible excuse" when the situation demands taking full responsibility, without offering any justifications. In such cases, focus on acknowledging the mistake and outlining steps for improvement.