a brief reason

USAGE SUMMARY

"a brief reason" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when you want to briefly explain or summarize an idea or concept. For example, "I can't attend the meeting tomorrow, here's a brief reason why."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

"If you want to give a brief reason, fine".

The New York Times

Be sure to include a brief reason for each change you make.

The New York Times

Three sections describing what you do plus a key, exciting metric or other "teaser" and a brief reason why you specifically want to talk to that investor is all you need.

TechCrunch

Where an item was eligible for the NMS, the therapeutic class it fell into was recorded along with whether or not the NMS was offered and whether it was declined (and a brief reason why if provided by the patient).

BMC Health Services Research

There is a risk that vaccinated mothers may be more willing to participate than unvaccinated mothers; while a high response rate will help mitigate this, we will also seek ethics approval to ask mothers who do not consent if we can record a brief reason why not, which will include the option that they have not received an influenza vaccine.

BMJ Open

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Rather, it was based on the values of the eighteenth-century Age of Enlightenment, when for a brief time, reason was allowed to challenge the magical thinking that has ruled humanity throughout history.

Huffington Post

The most basic way of saying no without ruining anyone else's day is to clearly and plainly say "no," followed by a brief, succinct reason why you said no. Contrary to popular belief, there's no need to lie or make up an excuse if you don't feel yours is good enough – remember, everyone has felt the same way you do right now.

WikiHow

The department's brief reasoned that "contagiousness is not itself a handicap" within the meaning of the law, and that "consequently discrimination based on concern about contagiousness is not handicap discrimination," even if those discriminated against are handicapped as well as contagious.

The New York Times

"It might even be argued that those arrested on nonindictable or other 'minor' offenses would be particularly anxious," the brief reasoned, to make sure that everyone around them was thoroughly searched.

The New York Times

There are two brief reasons for this distinction.

Disease Markers

It would be useful to give brief reasons why the particular method was chosen.

eLife

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a brief reason", ensure it directly supports your main point, avoiding unnecessary tangents or details.

Common error

Avoid defeating the purpose of "a brief reason" by adding excessive details. Keep it concise and to the point; elaborate only if directly asked.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a brief reason" functions as a noun phrase. Ludwig AI indicates that it introduces a concise explanation or justification for something, setting the expectation for a short and direct response.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Academia

33%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a brief reason" is a grammatically correct phrase used to introduce a short explanation or justification. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is valid and usable in written English. While not extremely common, it appears in diverse contexts such as news, science, and academia. When using this phrase, remember to keep your explanation concise and avoid unnecessary details. Alternatives such as "a short explanation" or "a concise rationale" can be used depending on the formality required. Overall, "a brief reason" serves as a useful way to provide quick clarification without overwhelming the audience with excessive information.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a short explanation

Replaces "reason" with "explanation", focusing on the act of clarifying.

a concise rationale

Substitutes "reason" with the more formal "rationale", emphasizing justification.

a quick justification

Uses "justification" instead of "reason", highlighting the act of defending or proving something right.

a summary explanation

Combines "summary" with "explanation" to emphasize conciseness and clarity.

a succinct account

Replaces "reason" with "account", implying a brief narrative or description.

a minimal explanation

Highlights the bare minimum of detail provided in the explanation.

a compact rationale

Emphasizes the condensed nature of the given rationale.

a thumbnail sketch of the reason

Introduces a metaphor to describe a very brief overview.

an abbreviated account

Focuses on the shortened form of the explanation.

a truncated explanation

Highlights that the explanation is shortened, possibly abruptly.

FAQs

How can I use "a brief reason" in a sentence?

You can use "a brief reason" to introduce a short explanation. For example, "The meeting was postponed; here's "a brief reason" why."

What's a more formal alternative to "a brief reason"?

A more formal alternative could be "a concise rationale" or "a summary explanation", which offer a similar meaning in a more professional context.

Is it better to give a long explanation or "a brief reason"?

The choice depends on the context. If a quick understanding is sufficient, "a brief reason" is ideal. For complex situations, a more detailed explanation might be necessary.

How does "a short explanation" differ from "a brief reason"?

"A short explanation" focuses on clarifying something, while "a brief reason" focuses on justifying or providing the cause for something. The terms are largely interchangeable.