with the excuse of

USAGE SUMMARY

"with the excuse of" is a correct phrase that can be used in written English.
It is often used to introduce an excuse or justification for someone's actions or behavior. Example: With the excuse of being busy with work, she canceled her plans with her friends for the third time this month.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

27 human-written examples

Even with the excuse of the 1980s, it was ghastly.

Independent

"These people will resort to any cruelty with the excuse of trying to preserve the regime".

The Guardian

After Saadabad agreement, we tied up our hand to further progress N. technology & halted everything with the excuse of 'cooperation'cooperation

The New York Times

She said that "in the name of religion and with the excuse of national security", the judiciary was "overseeing a miscarriage of justice".

The Guardian

He would not compel me to testify but, should I decide to do so voluntarily, he would provide me with the excuse of a federal subpoena.

The New York Times - Magazine

With the excuse of telling Joseph of Lilian's death, she sets out over the mountains (Joseph had gone by boat) for the gold fields.

The New York Times - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

33 human-written examples

When Balotelli's apartment went up in flames after a prank with fireworks, the excuse of youth was put forward.

The New York Times - Sports

A troupe of carnival dancers periodically moves in, with or without the excuse of a scene change, lending a nice fluidity to the proceedings.

The New York Times - Arts

Texas has dominated the series, 75-37-5, withavinghaving the excuse of being an all-male military institution until the mid-1960s.

The New York Times - Sports

And she has a problem with some using the excuse of "this is how men talk". .

Huffington Post

He also has the excuse of playing with a bruised kidney since October, but Kamensky will not use it.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "with the excuse of", ensure the context clarifies whether the excuse is genuine or a mere justification. This enhances clarity and prevents misinterpretations.

Common error

Avoid assuming the excuse is automatically false. The phrase doesn't inherently imply deceit; the surrounding context should provide clues about the genuineness of the reason being given.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "with the excuse of" functions as a prepositional phrase that introduces a reason or justification for an action, often implying that the reason might be questionable or not the primary motivation. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

20%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Science

10%

HuffPost

5%

The New York Times

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "with the excuse of" is a common prepositional phrase used to introduce a reason for an action, often suggesting a hint of skepticism regarding the reason's validity. Analysis of the provided examples reveals that it is most frequently found in "News & Media", "Formal & Business", and "Wiki" contexts. Ludwig AI validates its correctness and utility. When incorporating this phrase in your writing, be mindful of the subtle implications it conveys and ensure the surrounding context aligns with the intended tone.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

under the guise of

Suggests a deceptive element, where the stated reason hides the true motive.

on the pretext of

Implies a false or misleading reason is being presented.

under the pretense of

Strongly suggests deception, with the stated reason being a false front.

using the justification of

Focuses on providing a rationale, which may or may not be valid.

with the alibi of

Highlights the attempt to provide an explanation to avoid blame.

claiming as a reason

A direct way of stating that something is being used as a reason.

citing as an excuse

Similar to "claiming", but emphasizes the potential weakness of the reason.

professing as a motive

Indicates a declared reason, potentially open to skepticism.

alleging as grounds

Presents a reason that is asserted but not necessarily proven.

offering as explanation

Emphasizes the act of providing a reason, without judging its validity.

FAQs

How can I use "with the excuse of" in a sentence?

Use "with the excuse of" to introduce a reason, sometimes insincere, for an action. For example: "She canceled the meeting "with the excuse of" a prior engagement."

What are some alternatives to "with the excuse of"?

You can use phrases like "on the pretext of", "under the guise of", or "claiming as a reason" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Does "with the excuse of" imply the reason is false?

While "with the excuse of" can suggest insincerity, it doesn't always mean the reason is untrue. The context usually provides additional information to assess the validity of the excuse.

Is there a more formal way to say "with the excuse of"?

For a more formal tone, consider using "under the pretense of" or "with the justification of", which convey a similar meaning with a more elevated vocabulary.