Cool MateJustify vs Tell me why
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Justify
FormalBeyond 10,000 (less common)B2verb
Tell me why
Top 2,000 (common)
Most formal: JustifyMost common: Tell me why
| Justify | Tell me why | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈdʒʌstɪfaɪ/","/ˈdʒʌstɪfaɪz/","/ˈdʒʌstɪfaɪd/","/ˈdʒʌstɪfaɪɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈdʒʌstɪfaɪ/","/ˈdʒʌstɪfaɪz/","/ˈdʒʌstɪfaɪd/","/ˈdʒʌstɪfaɪɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //tɛl mi waɪ//🇺🇸 //tɛl mi waɪ// |
| Meaning | To give a good reason for something. | Ask someone to explain something to you. |
| Example | He tried to justify his actions during the meeting. | Can you tell me why the meeting was canceled? |
| Register | Formal | Neutral |
| How common | Beyond 10,000 (less common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | B2 | - |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Collocations | really, truly, easily, can, serve to, appear to, on the grounds of something, on the grounds that…, to | tell someone why, tell me why not, tell me why this happens |
| Antonyms | condemn, disprove, invalidate | - |
| Common mistakes | Used incorrectly as 'justification' instead of 'justify'., Confused with 'validate' in casual contexts., Incorrectly formed with 'justify to' instead of 'justify why'. | Omitting 'me' and saying just 'Tell why'., Using inappropriately in formal contexts without context., Misplacing the phrase at the end of a sentence. |
| Usage notes | Use 'justify' when explaining reasons or arguments, especially in formal writing or debate. Avoid in casual conversations. | Use in conversations when seeking an explanation. Suitable in both formal and informal contexts. |
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Frequently asked questions: Justify vs Tell me why
What's the difference between Justify and Tell me why?
Justify: To give a good reason for something. Tell me why: Ask someone to explain something to you.
Which is more formal: Justify and Tell me why?
Justify is the most formal of these.
Which is more common: Justify and Tell me why?
Tell me why is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Justify: He tried to justify his actions during the meeting. Tell me why: Can you tell me why the meeting was canceled?
Can I use Justify and Tell me why interchangeably?
Not always. Justify and Tell me why are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.