proper justification

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "proper justification" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the need for a valid or acceptable reason for a decision, action, or belief. Example: "In order to proceed with the project, we need to provide proper justification for the budget increase."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

33 human-written examples

Nevertheless, it seems to us that there is a proper justification for the publication of the story.

The Guardian

There is, or there should be, shame for the former prime minister, who drove through a policy that was entirely without proper justification, reliant on his own overweening self-belief.

The Guardian - Opinion

"Whilst it acknowledges the fact that the decision of the government's chosen path is uncertain, it then applies what amounts to an arbitrary Brexit penalty on the UK economy without any proper justification," said Patrick Minford, the group's co-chair.

The Guardian

But in terms of people's trust in politicians, the impression is that the government misled the country in relation to the reasons for war and embarked on it when there wasn't a proper justification.

The Guardian - Opinion

That is no proper justification at all, whether they were taken in England or in California, nor is the newspaper's argument that their commercial business model would somehow be affected if they were not allowed to do so.

The Guardian - Music

But it is just as incumbent on the media to scrutinise the claims of an individual who challenges to the mainstream and who, if given a platform without proper justification, can spread fear.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

27 human-written examples

"What I would say where the police are doing that there would need to be the proper justifications," he said.

The Guardian

They insisted that the planning team included only activities that they themselves believed were important without even providing proper justifications.

BMC Health Services Research

To state that lethal force should not be used without a proper legal justification is to state the obvious.

The Guardian - Opinion

The Justice Department also reported that the Ferguson police routinely performed "pedestrian checks," in which residents were stopped on the street, often without proper legal justification.

The New Yorker

Microsoft rejected requests for data in 18 percent of cases last year, mostly because it could not find any information on the individuals named or because law enforcement officials had not demonstrated the proper legal justification for the requests, the company said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "proper justification", ensure you provide specific and concrete reasons that directly support your claim or decision. Avoid vague or generalized statements.

Common error

Avoid relying on generic statements like "it's always been done this way" or "it's common practice" as a "proper justification". Instead, provide evidence-based reasoning that is specific to the situation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "proper justification" functions as a noun phrase, where 'proper' modifies 'justification'. It identifies the need for a valid, acceptable, or suitable reason for something. Ludwig indicates that it is used in contexts where demonstrating the validity of a decision or action is important.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

10%

Reference

5%

Wiki

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "proper justification" is a commonly used and grammatically correct phrase that emphasizes the need for valid and well-supported reasons. As shown by Ludwig, it is frequently used in contexts such as news, science, and formal business settings. When using this phrase, ensure that your justification is specific, evidence-based, and directly relevant to the situation. Avoid vague or generalized statements, and always aim to provide a clear and convincing explanation for your claims or decisions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

adequate justification

Replaces "proper" with "adequate", indicating a sufficient or acceptable level of justification.

valid justification

Uses "valid" instead of "proper", emphasizing the legitimacy and soundness of the justification.

reasonable justification

Substitutes "proper" with "reasonable", suggesting that the justification is logical and sensible.

sufficient justification

Similar to "adequate justification", this highlights that the justification is enough to meet the required standard.

legitimate justification

Emphasizes that the justification is lawful and conforms to accepted rules or standards.

appropriate justification

Replaces "proper" with "appropriate", indicating that the justification is suitable for the particular situation.

sound rationale

Uses the word "rationale" instead of "justification", implying a set of reasons or a logical basis for a course of action.

cogent explanation

Shifts focus to the explanatory aspect of the justification, using "cogent" to mean clear, logical, and convincing.

well-founded reason

Emphasizes the strength and support behind the reason, indicating it is based on solid evidence or principles.

convincing grounds

Highlights the persuasive nature of the grounds or reasons provided as justification.

FAQs

How to use "proper justification" in a sentence?

Use "proper justification" to emphasize the need for a valid and well-supported reason for an action, decision, or belief. For example, "The budget increase requires "adequate justification" before approval".

What can I say instead of "proper justification"?

You can use alternatives such as "valid reasoning", "adequate explanation", or "sound rationale", depending on the context.

What makes a justification "proper"?

A "proper" justification is one that is both relevant to the situation and supported by credible evidence or logical reasoning. It should clearly explain the reasoning behind a decision or action.

Is there a difference between "proper justification" and "sufficient explanation"?

While similar, "proper justification" implies a higher standard of reasoning and evidence compared to a "sufficient explanation", which simply needs to provide enough information to be understood.