provide excuse

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "provide excuse" is not correct in standard written English.
It is typically used in contexts where someone is asked to give a reason or justification for an action or behavior. Example: "I need you to provide an excuse for your absence from the meeting last week."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

The norms prohibit behaviour that may cause embarrassment to the movement or provide excuses for attacks by opponents.

Encyclopedia Britannica

"All I hear is, 'in laws, in laws, in laws, I can't do it this year,'" says Michael DeMarco, vice president of marketing for Alibi Network, an Internet-based service that will provide excuses for your absence.

Forbes

Her primary objectives appear to have been these... 1) to assemble and present a mass of sources, 2) provide excuses for the many strange events and comments attributed to Gustave Whitehead, and. 3) to attack the historical status of the Wrights.

Huffington Post

Don't provide excuses.

WikiHow

"Making sure a child attends school is also down to parents not providing excuses for their child's absence.

The Guardian

As the game unfolds in cheerfully preposterous fashion, the bewildering plot provides excuses for a series of epic boss battles, each one larger and more frantic.

Independent

Briefly, instructors can highlight typical discourse patterns (e.g., providing excuses to turn down a request/invitation) and note their role in assisting understanding implied meaning.

Language Testing in Asia

"Instead of preaching a cultural revolution, the leadership provides excuses for failure.

Huffington Post

(#1) (2 cases), protecting men from the consequences of their drinking by providing excuses at their workplace (2 cases), and helping them to find another job after they had been sacked for drinking (3 cases).

BMC Public Health

But it does provide an excuse for the occasional crackdown.

The Economist

And it requires time-consuming study and practice, which conveniently provide an excuse for not dating.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the context and choose a substitute with appropriate connotations. For example, use "pretext" when implying a false excuse.

Common error

Don't settle for the imprecise "provide excuse". Instead, clearly state whether you are offering a genuine explanation, a formal justification, or perhaps even a fabricated pretext.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "provide excuse" functions as a verb phrase where "provide" acts as a verb and "excuse" as a noun. It attempts to convey the act of offering a reason or justification for something. However, according to Ludwig AI, this phrasing is not considered grammatically correct in standard written English.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Science

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Less common in

Encyclopedias

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Wiki

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Social Media

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "provide excuse" is understandable, Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically incorrect in standard written English. It aims to convey offering a reason or justification, but more precise and acceptable alternatives exist, such as "offer an explanation", "give a reason", or "present a rationale". The appropriate substitute depends on the context and the desired level of formality. Therefore, it's best to avoid "provide excuse" and opt for these better alternatives to ensure clarity and grammatical correctness in writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

give a reason

Uses the simpler term "reason" instead of "excuse", suggesting a straightforward explanation.

offer an explanation

Replaces "excuse" with the neutral "explanation", suitable for various contexts.

offer a justification

Replaces "excuse" with the more formal "justification", implying a more reasoned defense.

present a rationale

Employs "rationale" for a more formal and logical explanation.

rationalize behavior

Focuses on creating a seemingly logical explanation, often after the fact.

advance a pretext

Uses "pretext", implying a false or disingenuous reason.

put forward a defense

Implies a formal or legalistic justification.

cite mitigating circumstances

Refers to specific factors that lessen the severity of a situation.

plead extenuating circumstances

Suggests a desperate attempt to justify actions based on difficult conditions.

make an apology

Focuses on expressing remorse rather than providing a reason.

FAQs

What's a better way to say "provide excuse"?

Instead of "provide excuse", try phrases like "offer an explanation", "give a reason", or "present a rationale" depending on the context. For more formal situations, consider "offer a justification" or if the reason is disingenuous, "advance a pretext".

How to use "offer an explanation" instead of "provide excuse"?

Instead of saying "He tried to provide an excuse for his tardiness", you could say "He tried to "offer an explanation" for his tardiness".

Which is correct: "provide excuse" or "give an excuse"?

While "provide excuse" is often used, it's more grammatically sound to say "give an excuse" or "offer an excuse". "Provide" generally refers to supplying something tangible or concrete.

When is it appropriate to use "pretext" instead of "excuse"?

Use "pretext" when the "provide pretense" is not the real reason, but rather a fabricated one to conceal the true motive.