weak justification

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "weak justification" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the inadequacy or lack of strength in a rationale or reasoning behind a decision or argument. Example: "The committee found the weak justification for the proposed policy changes unconvincing and decided to reject the proposal."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

Unfortunately, such an alternate reality, while entertaining, is a weak justification for the deaths of more than 1,300 American soldiers.

The New York Times

7) Mind the gap Be aware that "nobody has studied this topic before" is a very weak justification for a project.

The Guardian

The mistake to allow him on Q&A required more than just an expression of regret, a "weak justification" from ABC managing director Mark Scott and silence from the board, the parliamentary secretary wrote.

The Guardian

Edmund Morris's contention that presidents must steel themselves against the emotions of their constituents lest they "be sucked dry within a week of taking office" is a weak justification for President Bush's inability to empathize with the victims of his policy.

The New York Times

Kris, who oversaw national security issues at Justice from 2000 until he left the department in 2003, also wrote that the Bush administration's contention that Congress had authorized the NSA program by approving the use of force against al-Qaeda was a "weak justification" unlikely to be supported by the courts.

The Washington Post

But that, says Reid, is an exceedingly weak justification (EAP 1.4, 23).

SEP

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

Conversely, many students offer theoretical frameworks that come across as weak justifications for spending time in a place that interests the researchers.

University of California, Berkeley

"The CQC has blown Andrew Lansley's weak justifications out of the water by confirming that no women had poor outcomes of care at any of the clinics that he personally ordered raids on.

BBC

All they've got are weak justifications and non sequiturs.

HuffPost

Let's be clear: "Redsk*n" is a racial slur, no matter how many weak justifications defenders try and come up with to keep using it.

HuffPost

Moreover, notice that we can alter the example slightly so that the agent does possess knowledge while at the same time having a weaker justification for what she believes (where strength of justification is again assessed in terms of the likelihood, given this justification, that the agent's belief is true).

SEP

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When criticizing a justification, specify why it's weak by providing counter-arguments or pointing out logical flaws.

Common error

Avoid using hyperbolic language (e.g., "completely useless justification") unless the justification is truly devoid of merit. Nuance is often more persuasive.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "weak justification" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "weak" modifies the noun "justification". Ludwig's examples show it's used to describe the quality of a reason or argument, highlighting its lack of strength or validity.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "weak justification" is a common way to express that a reason or argument is unconvincing or lacks sufficient support. As noted by Ludwig, it is grammatically correct and usable in written English. Examples from news sources, scientific articles, and business documents illustrate its versatile usage. While alternatives like "flimsy justification" or "inadequate justification" exist, "weak justification" provides a straightforward and neutral way to critique the validity of a rationale. Being specific about why a justification is weak strengthens your argument and helps avoid overstating the case.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

flimsy justification

Suggests a justification that is not only weak but also easily broken or dismissed.

tenuous justification

Implies that the justification is fragile and barely holding together.

feeble justification

Indicates a justification that lacks strength and is unconvincing.

poor justification

Directly states the low quality of the justification.

inadequate justification

Focuses on the fact that the justification is insufficient or does not meet the required standard.

insufficient rationale

Highlights the lack of a sufficient reason or explanation.

shaky justification

Suggests a justification that is unstable and unreliable.

unconvincing rationale

Emphasizes that the justification fails to persuade or convince.

dubious rationale

Highlights that the rationale is questionable or gives rise to uncertainty.

groundless justification

Implies that the justification lacks any factual or logical basis.

FAQs

How can I use "weak justification" in a sentence?

You can use "weak justification" to describe an argument or reason that is unconvincing or lacks sufficient support. For example, "The proposed policy was rejected due to the "weak justification" provided by the committee."

What are some alternatives to "weak justification"?

Alternatives to "weak justification" include "flimsy justification", "tenuous justification", or "inadequate justification". The best choice depends on the specific context and the nuance you want to convey.

What makes a justification "weak"?

A justification is considered "weak" if it lacks sufficient evidence, logical reasoning, or relevance to the claim it's supposed to support. It may be based on faulty assumptions, incomplete information, or biased perspectives.

Is it always negative to describe something as a "weak justification"?

Yes, describing something as a "weak justification" is generally negative, as it implies that the reason or support provided is unpersuasive or insufficient. However, it's a more moderate criticism than saying there is no justification at all.