trying to justify

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "trying to justify" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing efforts to provide reasons or explanations for a particular action, belief, or situation. Example: "He was trying to justify his decision to leave the company despite the potential consequences."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"I am not trying to justify it.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Were you trying to justify its influence?

The Guardian - Books

But Johnny kept trying to justify it.

The Guardian

He's trying to justify the unjustifiable.

The New York Times

He was not trying to justify anything".

The New York Times

Was he trying to justify amnesia, our amnesia?

The New Yorker

He's not trying to justify it in the slightest".

The New York Times

"She was trying to justify it," the classmate said.

The Washington Post

I am not trying to justify myself for stealing.

The New Yorker

I'm not trying to justify the money we spent.

The New York Times - Sports

Others have sabotaged their careers by trying to justify themselves.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "trying to justify", ensure the context clearly indicates what is being justified and to whom the justification is directed. For instance, "The politician was trying to justify his actions to the public."

Common error

Avoid repeatedly using "trying to justify" when simpler terms like "explaining" or "defending" could suffice. Overusing the phrase can make your writing sound repetitive and defensive.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "trying to justify" functions as a verb phrase indicating an ongoing attempt to provide reasons or explanations for something. It often implies a need to defend or rationalize an action, belief, or situation. Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase is commonly used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

62%

Academia

18%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Science

8%

Reference

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "trying to justify" is a common and grammatically correct verb phrase used to describe the act of attempting to provide reasons or explanations for something, especially when defending a position or action. Ludwig AI confirms its usability. It appears most frequently in news and media contexts, but is also found in academic and business settings. While useful, be mindful of potential overuse and consider alternatives like "attempting to explain" or "seeking to rationalize" for greater clarity and variety.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

attempting to rationalize

Focuses on providing a rational explanation, often implying an attempt to make something acceptable.

seeking to vindicate

Emphasizes clearing someone or something of blame or suspicion.

aiming to defend

Highlights the act of protecting or supporting a position or action.

working to excuse

Suggests an effort to find reasons to pardon or overlook something.

endeavoring to warrant

Implies an attempt to provide sufficient grounds for an action or belief.

striving to legitimize

Focuses on making something lawful or acceptable.

rationalizing

A shorter, more direct way of saying attempting to rationalize.

explaining away

Suggests minimizing the importance or impact of something through explanation.

making a case for

Emphasizes presenting arguments to support a particular viewpoint.

arguing for

Directly implies presenting arguments in favor of something.

FAQs

How can I use "trying to justify" in a sentence?

You can use "trying to justify" to describe attempts to provide reasons or explanations for an action, belief, or situation. For example, "He was trying to justify his decision to leave the company."

What can I say instead of "trying to justify"?

You can use alternatives like "attempting to explain", "seeking to rationalize", or "aiming to defend" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "trying to justify" or "trying to excuse"?

"Trying to justify" and "trying to excuse" are both correct, but they have slightly different meanings. "Trying to justify" implies providing reasons to show something is right or reasonable, while "trying to excuse" implies seeking to pardon or overlook a fault.

What is the difference between "trying to justify" and "trying to explain"?

"Trying to justify" suggests an attempt to provide reasons why something is acceptable or right, often in the face of criticism. "Trying to explain" simply means attempting to make something understandable, without necessarily defending it.