without reasonable excuse

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "without reasonable excuse" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when someone has done something without a reasonable excuse. For example, "He was found guilty of speeding without reasonable excuse."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

Guidance was published that stated DNA evidence might be required and that applications could be refused if that evidence was not provided without reasonable excuse within four weeks.

The Guardian

Cities across the country have adopted it in various ways, from targeting aggressive begging and remaining in a public toilet without reasonable excuse, to "nuisance street entertainment" and even pigeon feeding.

The Guardian

It may be committed when a public officer, acting as such, wilfully misconducts himself to such a degree as to amount to an abuse of the public's trust in him and does so without reasonable excuse or justification.

The Guardian - Opinion

"So surely it is time for us to make it a criminal offence to fail to appear or refuse to appear, without reasonable excuse, before a committee of this house".

The Guardian

The jury was told to find the defendant guilty of two other charges: possession of knives or "bladed instruments", and possession of two knuckledusters, at a school "without reasonable excuse or lawful authority".

The Guardian

The offence is committed when a public officer acting as such wilfully neglects to perform his duty and/or wilfully misconducts himself to such a degree as to amount to an abuse of the public's trust in the office holder without reasonable excuse or justification.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

Mr. Doherty, 28, also pleaded guilty to a charge of failing to appear in court without a reasonable excuse.

The New York Times - Arts

In the latest example, a law that came into force on February 16th makes it illegal to take a photograph of a policeman without a "reasonable excuse", on the grounds that the snap could prove useful to a terrorist.

The Economist

Chappell has been summonsed to appear at Brighton magistrates court on 20 September to face three charges of neglecting or refusing to provide information and documents without a reasonable excuse.

The Guardian - Business

Almost 400 letters sent as part of the operation incorrectly stated that the applicant had to provide DNA evidence and that not providing such information without a reasonable excuse would lead to their application being refused on suitability grounds.

The Guardian

And while the Tele thundered about 380,000 jobseekers who skipped interviews without a reasonable excuse, the minister for human services, when pressed, was clear the number considered by the government to be a problem was far smaller and was far more measured in his rhetoric.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "without reasonable excuse" in legal or formal writing, ensure the context clearly defines what constitutes a 'reasonable' excuse, as it can be subjective and open to interpretation.

Common error

Avoid using "without reasonable excuse" in situations where the 'reasonableness' of an excuse is highly debatable or not easily determined. This can lead to ambiguity and potential disputes.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "without reasonable excuse" functions primarily as an adverbial modifier. It modifies a verb or clause to indicate the absence of a valid justification for an action or omission. Ludwig's examples illustrate its use in legal and regulatory contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Academia

33%

Wiki

17%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "without reasonable excuse" is a versatile adverbial modifier that signifies the absence of a valid justification for an action or omission. Ludwig AI indicates it is grammatically correct and appropriate for use in various contexts, particularly those involving legal, regulatory, or formally defined expectations. While generally neutral to formal in register, its usage is more common in News & Media and Academic contexts. When employing this phrase, it's crucial to consider the potential for subjective interpretation and ensure the context clearly defines what qualifies as 'reasonable'. Alternatives such as "without valid justification" may be used for a more formal tone, or "for no good reason" in less formal settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

without valid justification

Replaces "excuse" with "justification", emphasizing the lack of a legitimate defense.

without legitimate reason

Substitutes "reasonable excuse" with "legitimate reason", highlighting the absence of a valid cause.

absent a valid explanation

Replaces the phrase with a more formal tone using "absent" and "explanation".

lacking a justifiable cause

Uses "lacking" to indicate absence and "justifiable cause" to mean a valid reason.

unjustifiably

Condenses the phrase into a single adverb, denoting action without a valid basis.

inexcusably

Similar to unjustifiably, focusing on the lack of excusability for an action.

without due cause

Emphasizes the lack of appropriate or sufficient reason.

for no good reason

Offers a simpler, more informal alternative.

without a good reason

A slightly more formal version of "for no good reason".

unwarrantedly

Focuses on the action being without proper authorization or need.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "without reasonable excuse" in a legal context?

In legal writing, you can use alternatives such as "without valid justification" or "absent a valid explanation" for a more formal tone.

What's a simpler way to say "without reasonable excuse"?

For less formal situations, consider using "for no good reason" or "without a good reason".

When is it appropriate to use "without reasonable excuse"?

Use "without reasonable excuse" when you want to emphasize that someone's actions or omissions are not justified by any acceptable or valid reason.

What is the difference between "without reasonable excuse" and "without reasonable explanation"?

"Without reasonable excuse" typically implies a lack of justification for an action or inaction, while "without reasonable explanation" suggests a failure to provide a satisfactory account or reason for something. The former focuses on the validity of the reason, the latter on the act of explaining.