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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

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The rationale why

Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'The rationale why' is not a correct English phrase.
The correct phrase to use would be 'The reason why'. For example, "The reason why I decided to take the job was because I was looking for a new challenge."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

The rationale why CS could increase the risk of asthma has been referred to a modified intestinal microflora in those unexposed to the vaginal flora, according to the 'hygiene hypothesis' 15.

Enter the current best estimate within brackets [value] in the requirement and state in the rationale why the value is still an estimate.

More specifics of both the sensing modes and the rationale why static mode sensing is preferred over dynamic sensing method will be explained in the later sections of the article.

This is the rationale why anti-pathogenic drug discovery is now focusing on drug combinations, that are effective against a wide spectrum of pathogenic strains in low doses [ 54].

Traditionally, the rationale why passerines are intimidated by the eyespots of the peacock butterfly posits that a pair of large eyespots mimics the eyes of the birds' own predators, such as those of an owl ("Eye-mimicry hypothesis"; Blest 1957; Stevens 2005).

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

We knew of no biological rationale why the inverse parity-risk relationship should be limited to cardia cancer.

This observation is entirely consistent with that of Dunbar [ 40] who suggests a convincing rationale why the HADS is not a highly discriminative instrument in some populations is because the HADS-A and HADS-D sub-scale scores are contaminated by overlap between the three underlying factors.

The omnibus context describes the general intervention and implementation setting: occupation (who), location (where), time (when), and rationale (why), whereas the discrete context refers to "specific situational variables that influence behaviour directly or moderate relationships between variables" [ 21].

Reviewer #3 1) Figure 1A: it is not obvious why a dual-luciferase reporter vector was used for these experiments, nor the rationale for why the insert is placed at the 5' end of the Renilla sequence.

Science

eLife

I could come up with a rationale why any of the nominees could win.

"I want to see the details -- what was their rationale, why did they do it -- before offering an opinion," said Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz)., who earlier this week accused the administration of engaging in a "cover-up" in Benghazi.

News & Media

Huffington Post
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Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for clarity and grammatical correctness, replace "the rationale why" with "the reason why" or another alternative that avoids redundancy.

Common error

Be aware that using both "rationale" and "why" together can create a redundant phrase. Opt for a more concise and grammatically sound alternative like "the reason for".

Antonio Rotolo, PhD - Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

82%

Authority and reliability

3.8/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

The phrase "The rationale why" functions as an introductory element to explain the reasons or justifications behind a decision, action, or phenomenon. Although Ludwig AI identifies the phrase as incorrect, it is frequently used across different types of sources.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

33%

News & Media

33%

Academia

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "The rationale why" is used to introduce explanations or justifications. However, Ludwig AI identifies this phrase as grammatically incorrect due to redundancy, recommending alternatives like "the reason why" or "the rationale for". While common across various contexts including science, news, and academia, it's important to recognize that using "rationale" and "why" together can be redundant. Opting for more concise alternatives enhances clarity and grammatical correctness in your writing. Remember to use the best alternative, since "rationale" and "reason" aren't always interchangeable.

FAQs

What can I say instead of "The rationale why"?

You can use alternatives like "the reason why", "the reason for", or "the justification for" depending on the context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "The rationale why"?

While commonly used, "The rationale why" is considered grammatically incorrect due to redundancy. It's better to use "the reason why" or simply "the rationale for".

What's the difference between "The rationale why" and "The reason why"?

"The rationale why" and "The reason why" are often used interchangeably, but the latter is grammatically preferred. "Rationale" already implies "why", making the inclusion of "why" redundant.

How can I use "The rationale why" correctly in a sentence?

While it's generally better to use an alternative, if you choose to use "The rationale why", ensure the rest of the sentence is clear and concise. However, consider replacing it with "the reason why" or "the rationale for" for improved grammar.

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Source & Trust

82%

Authority and reliability

3.8/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences: