Excuse vs Excuse

• Excuse (a reason or explanation to justify something) – Noun

• Excuse (to forgive or release from a duty) – Verb

Pronunciation

These words are heteronyms, meaning they are spelled the same but pronounced differently and have different meanings.

• Excuse (Noun): Pronounced /ɪkˈskjuːs/ (EKS-kyoos) — A reason.

• Excuse (Verb): Pronounced /ɪkˈskjuːz/ (ek-SKYOOZ) — To forgive.

Listen to the audio. Notice how the pronunciation changes based on the meaning.

What makes them different is your intonation, expression, and context, or the other words in the sentence.

Instruction

Read each sentence aloud and practice identifying the meaning of "excuse" in context.
Can you tell which “excuse” is being mentioned as you read each sentence?

Example Sentences

1. She always has an excuse for being late.
   a. A reason or explanation to justify something
   b. To forgive or release from a duty

2. Please excuse me for interrupting the meeting.
   a. A reason or explanation to justify something
   b. To forgive or release from a duty

3. He used a sore throat as an excuse for not singing in the choir.
   a. A reason or explanation to justify something
   b. To forgive or release from a duty

4. The teacher excused the student for being absent due to illness.
   a. A reason or explanation to justify something
   b. To forgive or release from a duty

5. That’s just an excuse to avoid taking responsibility.
   a. A reason or explanation to justify something
   b. To forgive or release from a duty

6. Can you excuse me for a moment? I need to take a call.
   a. A reason or explanation to justify something
   b. To forgive or release from a duty

7. He came up with an excuse that didn’t make much sense.
   a. A reason or explanation to justify something
   b. To forgive or release from a duty

8. The manager excused the employee from the meeting due to personal reasons.
   a. A reason or explanation to justify something
   b. To forgive or release from a duty

9. I don’t think that’s a valid excuse for breaking the rules.
   a. A reason or explanation to justify something
   b. To forgive or release from a duty

10. The jury excused the witness after the testimony was complete.
    a. A reason or explanation to justify something
    b. To forgive or release from a duty

Answers

1. a

2. b

3. a

4. b

5. a

6. b

7. a

8. b

9. a

10. b

Intonation

Instructions: Intonation is controlling the rise and fall of your voice. When we do this with words and phrases, we send the listener a specific message.

Excuse (a reason or explanation to justify something)

1. He gave an excuse for not completing the project. (Stress excuse to emphasize the justification.)

2. She had a good excuse for missing the deadline. (Highlight excuse to focus on the reason.)

3. That’s a weak excuse for such bad behavior. (Emphasize excuse to show disapproval.)

Excuse (to forgive or release from a duty)

1. Please excuse me for leaving early. (Stress excuse to ask for forgiveness.)

2. The teacher excused the student from homework due to illness. (Highlight excused to show leniency.)

3. Can you excuse him from today’s practice? (Emphasize excuse to request permission.)

Expression

The following explains how stressing or emphasizing the bolded words alters the tone or focus of the sentence and offers some helpful tips. Practice stressing these words when speaking.

Excuse (a reason or explanation to justify something):

• Weak excuse: Highlights the lack of a valid reason.

  • Tip: Emphasize weak to criticize the justification.

  • Sentence: That’s a weak excuse for not showing up on time.

• Valid excuse: Refers to an acceptable reason.

  • Tip: Highlight valid to show approval.

  • Sentence: She had a valid excuse for not attending the meeting.

• Come up with an excuse: Suggests creating a justification.

  • Tip: Stress come up to show the effort behind the reason.

  • Sentence: He tried to come up with an excuse, but no one believed him.

Excuse (to forgive or release from a duty):

• Excuse me: A polite way to seek forgiveness or leave temporarily.

  • Tip: Highlight me to show it’s personal.

  • Sentence: Excuse me, I need to step out for a moment.

• Excuse from duty: Refers to being released from responsibility.

  • Tip: Stress duty to emphasize the task.

  • Sentence: The coach excused him from duty due to an injury.

• Excuse for absence: Refers to a justification for missing something.

  • Tip: Highlight absence to specify the reason.

  • Sentence: The note served as an excuse for his absence from school.

Things to Remember:

The word "excuse" is used in different contexts:

• Excuse (a reason or explanation to justify something): Often paired with phrases like "weak excuse," "valid excuse," or "come up with an excuse."

  • Example: She came up with a valid excuse for missing the meeting.

• Excuse (to forgive or release from a duty): Commonly used with "excuse me," "excuse from duty," or "excuse for absence."

  • Example: Please excuse me for arriving late; I was stuck in traffic.