a fair reason for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a fair reason for" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing justifications or explanations for a particular action or decision, implying that the reason is reasonable or justifiable. Example: "There is a fair reason for her decision to leave the company, considering the circumstances she faced."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Misconduct can be a "fair reason" for dismissal under employment law.

The Guardian - Money

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

But the longtime host of the radio program "This American Life" had a pretty fair reason for not knowing.

Huffington Post

That's a fair reason.

The New York Times

This is fair reason for concern.

The New York Times

But then so can a noticeable drop in your performance as a result of your hidden mental illness, and this could lead to a termination of employment on capability grounds (one of the other fair reasons for a dismissal).

The Guardian - Money

These dystopian governments claim to have logical, fair reasons for their actions.

The Guardian

The fact that councils need to choose between people who typically all have fair reasons for being on the waiting list, highlights the urgent need to build more affordable homes".

The Guardian - Money

Although we have a fair understanding of the reasons for this progress, we don't have conclusive evidence for this.

IATSS Research

One might have imagined, if asked to speculate, say, yesterday, a fair number of reason for Petraeus to resign at some point.

The New Yorker

That's been the position with prime ministers for a very, very long time and for very good and fair reason".

The Guardian

To be fair, the reason for this is not just the uncongenial surroundings but the fact that Corbynmania now extends to the East Coast mainline.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a fair reason for", ensure the reason is genuinely impartial and equitable to maintain credibility. For instance, "There's a fair reason for the decision, considering all factors were weighed equally."

Common error

Avoid using "a fair reason for" when the situation clearly benefits one party disproportionately. Doing so can undermine your argument and appear disingenuous. Acknowledge imbalances where they exist to maintain transparency and trust.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a fair reason for" functions as a noun phrase introducing a justification or explanation. It specifies that the reason is unbiased and equitable. Examples from Ludwig indicate its use in diverse contexts, from employment law to personal decisions, affirming its role in presenting reasonable grounds.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

49%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

21%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a fair reason for" is a versatile phrase used to introduce an unbiased and equitable justification. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread usage across diverse contexts, from media and science to formal business. Alternatives like "a legitimate rationale for" and "a justifiable cause for" offer similar meanings, while understanding potential misuse, like overstating fairness, is crucial. The phrase is frequently employed in news, science and business communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a legitimate rationale for

Replaces "fair" with "legitimate" and "reason" with "rationale", emphasizing the validity of the reason.

a justifiable cause for

Substitutes "reason" with "cause", highlighting the justification behind an action or decision.

a valid explanation for

Focuses on providing an explanation that is sound and acceptable.

a reasonable basis for

Emphasizes the logical foundation or grounds for something.

a sound justification for

Highlights the strength and validity of the reasoning behind something.

a good ground for

Uses "ground" instead of "reason", indicating a solid basis or foundation.

an adequate motive for

Focuses on the motivation behind an action, ensuring it is sufficient or acceptable.

a defensible pretext for

Implies a reason that can be defended or justified, even if potentially questionable.

a plausible alibi for

Suggests a reason that is believable or credible, especially in excusing behavior.

an excusable rationale for

Indicates a reason that can be forgiven or excused, often implying a mitigating circumstance.

FAQs

How can I use "a fair reason for" in a sentence?

Use "a fair reason for" to introduce a justifiable or equitable explanation. For example, "There is "a fair reason for" the policy change, considering the long-term benefits for all stakeholders."

What's a good substitute for "a fair reason for"?

Alternatives include "a valid explanation for", "a legitimate rationale for", or "a justifiable cause for", each emphasizing the legitimacy or validity of the reason.

Is it always necessary to explicitly state "a fair reason for"?

No, it's not always necessary. If the fairness or justifiability is implied or obvious from the context, you can simply state the reason. However, using the phrase emphasizes the impartiality and equity of the explanation.

What makes a reason "fair" in the context of "a fair reason for"?

A "fair" reason implies that the explanation is unbiased, equitable, and takes into account all relevant factors impartially. It suggests that the decision or action is not based on favoritism or prejudice.