a conceivable explanation

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a conceivable explanation" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing a possible or plausible reason for something, especially in academic or analytical contexts. Example: "After reviewing the evidence, the researchers proposed a conceivable explanation for the unusual phenomenon observed in the study."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

8 55 Okay, at this point, I can not imagine a conceivable explanation for Lily's secret being so powerful.

Huffington Post

The strain was found to be remarkably thermotolerant providing a conceivable explanation of its persistence in the hospital environment.

Plosone

A conceivable explanation is that apoptosis of endothelial cells is more apparent when the vascular phenotype is more severe as in Carmeliet et al [9].

Plosone

A conceivable explanation is that inhibition of Notch activity at stage 12/13, prior to the onset of neurogenesis in the olfactory epithelium, diminished the proliferating pool of cells.

Plosone

Thus, a conceivable explanation for this outcome is that patients in the placebo group were more prone to suffer from heart failure than their counterparts on losartan treatment.

Cardiovascular Diabetology

Thus, a conceivable explanation for the behavior of Caltech's HeLa-S3 cells would be reprogramming towards pluripotency, although an underlying mechanism for this process remains enigmatic.

BMC Medical Genomics

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

Implicit in these criticisms is the idea that scientists should consider any conceivable explanation of a set of data, regardless of how unlikely, and until they can eliminate all but one with certainty, their conclusions are suspect.

Evolution: Education and Outreach

Importantly, a fourth conceivable explanation for our culture-negative group is that some of the patients did not actually have sepsis.

Critical Care

Indeed, an alternative and more conceivable explanation is a more limited lifetime exposure to CVD risk factors, which is in line with the current rapid urbanization in this population [ 37].

BioMed Research International

The decision to remove Mr. Wright, a step supported by prosecutors, "has no conceivable explanation except retaliation for litigating a case so well," Professor Dow said.

The New York Times

Tom Sinclair of Entertainment Weekly gave it a "D", writing that "avarice is the only conceivable explanation for this glib, vacuous cipher of an album, which is notable primarily for its stomach-turning merger of progressive-rock pomposity and New Age noodling".

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a conceivable explanation", ensure it aligns with the evidence presented and avoid presenting it as the only possible explanation if alternatives exist.

Common error

Avoid presenting "a conceivable explanation" as definitively correct. Instead, frame it as one possible interpretation among others, especially in contexts where uncertainty remains.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a conceivable explanation" functions as a noun phrase, serving to introduce a potential reason or interpretation for a particular phenomenon or observation. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

30%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

5%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a conceivable explanation" is a grammatically sound and relatively common way to introduce a possible reason or interpretation for something. Ludwig AI analysis indicates the phrase is used across diverse contexts, from scientific literature to news reporting, albeit with varying frequencies. It's vital to use it appropriately, presenting it as one potential understanding rather than an absolute truth, especially in situations where ambiguity persists. Alternative phrases such as "a plausible explanation" or "a possible explanation" can be used to nuance the level of certainty or likelihood associated with the explanation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a plausible explanation

Emphasizes the apparent reasonableness or believability of the explanation.

a possible explanation

Indicates that the explanation is one potential option among others.

a likely explanation

Suggests a higher probability that the explanation is the correct one.

a potential explanation

Highlights the explanation as a possibility that warrants further consideration.

a reasonable explanation

Focuses on the logical and rational nature of the explanation.

an imaginable explanation

Indicates that the explanation is within the realm of what can be conceived or thought of.

an understandable explanation

Suggests that the explanation makes sense and is easy to grasp.

a tenable explanation

Implies that the explanation is defensible and can withstand scrutiny.

a thinkable explanation

A more emphatic way to express that the explanation could be imagined.

a credible explanation

Emphasizes that the explanation is worthy of belief or trust.

FAQs

What does "a conceivable explanation" mean?

The phrase "a conceivable explanation" refers to an explanation that is possible to imagine or believe, even if it's not definitively proven or the most likely option.

How can I use "a conceivable explanation" in a sentence?

You can use "a conceivable explanation" to introduce a potential reason or cause for something. For example: "A conceivable explanation for the drop in sales is increased competition."

What's the difference between "a conceivable explanation" and "a plausible explanation"?

"A conceivable explanation" simply means it's possible to imagine, while "a plausible explanation" suggests it's reasonable and likely to be true.

Are there synonyms for "a conceivable explanation"?

Yes, you can use synonyms such as "a possible explanation", "a potential explanation", or "a likely explanation" depending on the context.