When does an explanation becomes an excuse?

Personally, I see an excuse as not taking responsibility for their wrong doing. It's another way of saying, "It's not my fault"

An explanation is when it really isn't the persons fault or at least it's a more legimate reason.

Example (From the coaches point of view):

Excuse - I fumbled the football because the ball was wet.

Explanation - I fumbled be cause I lost my concentration.

Excuse - I was late for work because their was somebody in front of me that didn't know how to drive.

Explanation - I didn't leave enough time.

Explanation - I had a flat tire (I consider this legimate).

An explanation can easily be deemed to be an excuse, and it's all relative.

But for sure an explanation becomes an excuse when the explanation itself doesn't show that you did all that you could to avoid the error. An excuse means that you did something wrong and the circumstance that caused that to happen is the excuse.

Well, I guess you could say that an excuse, by definition, is an explanation that someone gives to try to get forgiveness or leniency. So really whenever you give an explanation that portrays that you want forgiveness, then that is an excuse.

In my opinion, an excuse is when you explain something that you did wrong and that your were obviously in the wrong for, but you don't apologize. When you try to justify your behaviour or blame it on something or someone else. For example, "I blew up at you because all these things have been building up inside me and I guess I just exploded." is an explanation. However, "Everyone's been annoying me today, then I come home and the house isn't tidy like it should have been, and I lost it." is an excuse. It's not taking responsibility for your behaviour and blaming it on others. Also if they say something like, "Well I'm not saying sorry because it's how I feel, I'm not going to apologize for the way I am." It sounds to me like you explained yourself well and apologized. It doesn't sound like you're making excuses at all. P.S. Ramblinrose...this isn't the 60's! Do you realize how many people live together and aren't married? Getting married isn't the answer to every relationship problem. Every married couple has problems as well, that's why there's a 50% divorce rate.

If someone wants an explanation, and then calls it an excuse, generally that person is just really angry and wants to show you he's in charge.

But to a reasonable person, an explanation for your lateness would tell me the cause of your lateness--and it might or might not be within your control.

An excuse is an explanation of cause that is an attempt to make it seem like it's beyond your control.

An explanation becomes an excuse when it morphs from explanation to justification.

"Why did you steal the Xbox?" "Because I wanted it." Explanation.

Why did you steal the Xbox?" "I grew up poor! I have never had anything nice! Am I just supposed to go through life with nothing? The middle class is shrinking day by day. The rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer. How dare you judge me!" Excuse.

An explanation provides a reason. An excuse is an attempt to evade one's responsibility for a given commitment.

When he asks you why, you say "Sir, I don't have a good reason", or "Sir, I don't have an excuse". In other words, you acknowledge the fact that it was your fault, you are taking responsibiltiy for it and you'll do your best to make sure it doesn't happen again. They don't really give a $hit about the details of why, just that you are aware of your mistake and take responsibility for your actions.

If you are true to yourself and know that what you are saying is the truth, and if you thing that your reason is reasonable, then take it as a good explanation of your problem. Don't bother if others tell it is an excuse, in such situations.

A short simple reason is an explanation. A long, drawn out reason is an excuse. It sounds more like covering your *** the more details you give. Keep it short and simple.

I had the same topic discussion just the other day, and it really does leave out facts and legitimate reasons which indicate to me that a personal bonding is not needed. A kind of denial, a selective viewing . In other words , just give the results and not how you did or did not do what the instructions say. By the book, By the book. I don't want to know you , I just want the service, in other words. Liston and do. don't liston and explain. just do. just do.