a partial explanation is

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a partial explanation is" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when introducing a reason or justification that does not fully account for a situation or phenomenon. For example, "A partial explanation is that the data was incomplete." Alternative expressions include "a limited explanation is," "a partial account is," and "a fragmentary explanation is."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

A partial explanation is that data for the LTCI system are recorded from an insurer's perspective, so data about medical conditions are absent.

BMC Health Services Research

A partial explanation is that some professionals, like general practitioners, often receive requests to participate in a study and are therefore less likely to respond.

BMC Health Services Research

A partial explanation is that a single parameter p and a single q i for each lineage is too simple a model.

BMC Genomics

A partial explanation is that numbers of microglia increase strongly after 9 dpf in zebrafish (Svahn et al., 2013), suggesting that the phagocytic capacity at stages examined in this study might be quite low.

DMM Disease Models and Mechanisms

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

A possible partial explanation is that while temperature and humidity are correlated in Hong Kong in the cool season (r =.28) there is no correlation between them in Taipei.

Environmental Health: A Global Access Science Source

One partial explanation is that many of those organizational pyramids despite their reputations have proven themselves quite capable of change.

Harvard Business Review

One partial explanation is that the definition of neonatal diabetes for these series was diagnosis in the first 4 or 6 weeks rather than the first 6 months of life.

Diabetologia

6 However, recent UK-based research utilising pharmacists to provide medication reviews found a counter-intuitive increase in hospitalisation, 7 with one partial explanation being the didactic nature of the pharmacist communication.

BMJ Open

Although biological factors 1 2 and health behaviours 3 4 may provide a partial explanation, it is very widely assumed that men and women have a different propensity to consult 5 and that this may be an important contributor to the gender gap in mortality.

BMJ Open

A partial explanation might be the relatively small number of bulls whose sire was not genotyped, resulting in a large sampling error of the correlation between DGV and phenotype.

Genetics, Selection, Evolution

A partial explanation may be the pattern of Meade's typical year, in which he fires out winners through the autumn and early winter before running out of ammunition after New Year.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a partial explanation is", follow it with a clear indication that other factors may also be involved for a complete understanding.

Common error

Avoid presenting "a partial explanation is" as the only reason or factor. Ensure you acknowledge that other contributing elements exist.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a partial explanation is" functions as an introductory phrase. It serves to introduce a reason or justification that accounts for a portion, but not the entirety, of a phenomenon or situation. This is confirmed by Ludwig's examples, where the phrase precedes various explanations.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

41%

Formal & Business

9%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a partial explanation is" is a grammatically sound introductory phrase used to present a reason that doesn't fully account for a situation. Ludwig indicates that while grammatically correct, it's a relatively rare phrase found mostly in scientific and news contexts. When using this phrase, it's important to acknowledge that other factors are likely at play to avoid misleading the reader. Alternative phrasing such as "one possible reason is" or "this may partly explain" can offer similar nuance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

one possible reason is

Replaces "explanation" with "reason" and restructures the sentence slightly.

one contributing factor is

Substitutes "explanation" with "contributing factor" to emphasize a cause.

a contributing factor might be

Adds "might be" to soften the assertion.

a possible contributing factor is

Includes "possible" to highlight the speculative nature of the reason.

this may partly explain

Rephrases the sentence to focus on what is being explained.

this offers a limited explanation

Uses "limited explanation" instead of "partial explanation".

this provides some insight into

Shifts the focus to providing insight rather than a full explanation.

a piece of the puzzle is

Metaphorically describes the explanation as a piece of a larger puzzle.

the account is a partial explanation

Rephrases the sentence to focus on the account aspect as an explantion

this is partly attributable to

Indicates that the situation is partly caused by something.

FAQs

How can I use "a partial explanation is" in a sentence?

Use "a partial explanation is" to introduce a reason that accounts for some, but not all, aspects of a situation. For example, "A partial explanation is that resources were limited".

What are some alternatives to "a partial explanation is"?

You can use alternatives like "one possible reason is", "one contributing factor is", or "this may partly explain" depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use "a partial explanation is" instead of a full explanation?

Use "a partial explanation is" when you understand some, but not all, of the reasons behind something. It's suitable when you want to offer insight while acknowledging the complexity of the situation.

What does it mean to offer a "partial explanation"?

Offering "a partial explanation" means providing a reason or account that only explains a portion of the facts or circumstances. It suggests that other factors are also at play.