What's the difference between a reason and an excuse?

Answer 1

A reason is a circumstance that caused an event or situation. But any given event or situation has more than one reason.

An excuse is a selected reason, accepted (or fabricated) by a party to the exclusion of other reasons in order to avoid (or cause) a circumstance of their choosing.

Answer 2

If you mean "What's the difference between having a reason for something and having an excuse for something," where "a reason" is meant as "a GOOD reason":

A reason for something (say, why Mr. Jones shot Mr. Smith) would be the case where Mr. Jones shoots Mr. Smith to prevent Smith from murdering a large number of innocent people. In this case, the motivation behind Jones's action is a "good reason," a justifiable purpose.

Whereas an excuse would be if Mr. Jones shot Smith for some unjustifiable motivation (he just really hates him), but presented some acceptable reason as a cover.

"Excuse" as we use it here carries on the tradition of using the term in a somewhat derisory manner to suggest an excuse for the sake of an excuse. Of course, the "reason" counterpart also carries the concept of an excuse (Jones is excused of the moral consequences of shooting Smith because of the specific situation given and his intent), but the difference is that for an action to be said to have a reason rather than an excuse the reason given must be a just one and not a cover for some ulterior motive (saying Jones shot Smith to save people, when he in fact only shot him because he hates the bugger).


A reason is a justified excuse.

Answer 3

That story you told because you were late, failed, didn't care, left to the last minute, half-assed, were hungover, pawned off or whatever else, is an excuse. It was simply meant to ease your mind from the fact that you did not do what was required to meet the task. Failing even at a task you are not qualified for or is beyond your abilities is inexcusable, letting yourself be assigned such tasks is the root of the failure.

Reasons are motivators for proactive actions. Reasons are what drive you to prepare for those tasks ahead that are presently beyond your capabilities.

If you are treking in the woods, an excuse is not crossing the river because it is to deep and too fast, a reason is the solution you found to get to the other side without getting wet.

Answer 4

An excuse is a (often phony) reason given for a failure.

Examples:

1. The reason I aced the test is because I studied.
(excuse is not appropriate here, because there is no
attempt to justify a failure)

2. The reason I missed work today, is because I went to the
emergency room.
(A good excuse if it is true)

3. The reason I missed work today, is because I couldn't find
any clean underwear.
(A typical (bad) excuse, because it isn't really a justification. The situation that lead to the failure was totally avoidable).

Answer 5

A reason is an excuse with another name

Answer 6

A reason is the justification in doing something, or in a happening while an excuse is the reason of doing a negative act.

Answer 7

A reason is the truth of any circumstance and a excuse is a fabricated answer to over come the situation at any moment

Answer 8

An excuse is a way of blame shifting. It takes the burden of responsibility and puts it on some external force. It is the trade mark of a victim, and it is a mental pychodynamic defense mechanism. It's a form of denial. It saves us from feeling healthy shame.

A reason is a legitimate explanation as to what certain circumstances or extenuating circumstances caused the outcome. In this case, the person who is to "blame" takes responsibility and 'cleans-up' his or her mess as a form of respect to those who were offended.

Answer 9

Maybe not much....but I think a reason may have a more factual basis while an excuse is just something you made up to avoid a situation.

Answer 10

reason:
-a basis or cause, as for some belief, action, fact, event, etc.: the reason for declaring war.
-a statement presented in justification or explanation of a belief or action.
excuse:
-an explanation offered as a reason for being excused; a plea offered in extenuation of a fault or for release from an obligation, promise, etc.
-a ground or reason for excusing or being excused: Ignorance is no excuse.
- a pretext or subterfuge.