strong excuse

USAGE SUMMARY

"strong excuse" is correct and usable in written English.
You could use it when trying to make a justification for something. For example: "I have a strong excuse for why I was late to work this morning."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Locally it will give some super-interesting locals a place to go that they don't have now, and internationally we'll create a strong excuse to come to Miami and experience something that is one of a kind".

The Guardian - Arts

It's a strong excuse, but takes guts and acting skills to do.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

And, to be completely candid, this is despite them having several very strong excuses to drop me along the way.

Vice

I countered that I was holding a bulky laptop in my bag — not my strongest excuse, in hindsight.

The New York Times

I had spent a year thinking about it and knew only something as powerful as pneumonia would be a strong enough excuse.

Huffington Post

Others – a skit about the discovery of bacon that stoops, again, to bestiality; a fairytale set in the 1990s – are tenuously related to the theme and not strong enough to excuse that.

The Guardian

The article has received a strong reaction from readers: "Excuses, excuses.

The New York Times

As the boat pitches and rolls over the strong current, Steves excuses himself, gets up from his seat and disappears toward the bow of the ferry.

The New York Times - Magazine

The zone's mediocre performance, the OECD says, is not just bad luck, "circumstantial arguments"—the Iraq war, oil and commodity price shocks and the stronger euro being no excuse for a "string of aborted recoveries".

The Economist

I will use Momz Laugh on top because I think she's coming out of very strong efforts with excuses, especially when she stumbled badly leaving the gate against the very fast Stonetastic last out in the Miami Shores.

Los Angeles Times

But strong performance is no excuse for ignoring the corporate governance rules without a very convincing explanation".

The Guardian - Business

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "strong excuse", ensure that the context clearly indicates why the excuse is considered particularly valid or compelling. Provide enough detail to support the strength of the justification.

Common error

Avoid using "strong excuse" when the justification is weak or easily disproven. Overusing the phrase can undermine your credibility if the excuse doesn't hold up under scrutiny.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "strong excuse" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "strong" modifies the noun "excuse". It signifies a justification that is particularly valid, convincing, or robust. As indicated by Ludwig, the phrase is grammatically sound and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

50%

Science

0%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "strong excuse" is a grammatically correct phrase used to describe a particularly convincing or valid justification. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English. While relatively rare in occurrence, the phrase appears across various contexts, notably in News & Media and Wiki sources. When using "strong excuse", ensure the justification is genuinely robust to maintain credibility. Alternatives such as "valid justification" or "compelling reason" can offer similar meanings with slight variations in emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

valid justification

Emphasizes the legitimacy and acceptability of the reason.

compelling reason

Focuses on the persuasiveness and forcefulness of the explanation.

legitimate defense

Highlights the excusatory nature of the reason, particularly in situations where blame is being assigned.

sound explanation

Highlights the validity and rationality of the offered reason.

adequate reason

Focuses on the sufficiency of the reason to meet a certain requirement or expectation.

convincing alibi

Specifies that the excuse is aimed at proving someone's innocence or absence from a certain place.

plausible justification

Indicates that the excuse is believable and reasonable.

acceptable rationale

Stresses that the excuse is deemed satisfactory and permissible.

credible explanation

Highlights the trustworthiness and believability of the reason provided.

substantial grounds

Implies the excuse is founded on significant and solid reasoning.

FAQs

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

You can use "strong excuse" to describe a reason that is particularly convincing or valid, such as: "I have a "strong excuse" for my tardiness this morning: my car broke down."

What is a situation where a "strong excuse" is needed?

A "strong excuse" is useful when you need to justify a serious mistake, absence, or failure to meet expectations, where a simple apology isn't sufficient.

What can I say instead of "strong excuse"?

Alternatives to "strong excuse" include "valid justification", "compelling reason", or "legitimate defense", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is it better to have a "strong excuse" or a "good excuse"?

A "strong excuse" suggests a higher degree of validity and persuasiveness than a "good excuse". Using "strong" implies the reason is particularly compelling and difficult to dispute.