a plausible account

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a plausible account" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing a narrative or explanation that seems reasonable or believable based on the available evidence or context. Example: "The detective presented a plausible account of the events leading up to the crime, which helped to clarify the timeline for the jury."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Populists offer a plausible account of the historical record.

Harvard Business Review

He now needs a plausible account of the new economy Labour would build in its place.

The Guardian - Opinion

This structure must present a plausible account of the various factors relevant to the conclusion.

The New York Times

A plausible account of what might have happened did eventually emerge, but too late to bring the culprit to justice.

The Guardian - Books

Since Lewis wrote — and unbeknown to many believers — evolutionary psychologists have developed a plausible account of the moral sense.

The New York Times

The strongly reactive profile gave a plausible account of the way humans provide the logically incorrect answer to the task.

Biologically Inspired Cognitive Architectures

No one has ever offered a plausible account of why thousands of scientists at hundreds of universities in dozens of countries would bother to engineer a climate hoax.

The New Yorker

One might suggest that the ability novelists have to create characters, characters often very different from themselves, and to give a plausible account of their consciousnesses, helps us develop powers of sympathy and empathy in real life.

The Guardian - Books

The authors of "Game Change" succeed in creating a plausible account of the emotional tumult of the 2008 campaign as it might have been — perhaps even was — experienced by the candidates, their spouses, and their staffs.

The New Yorker

QUESTION FROM JEREMIAH GRIM: No one has ever offered a plausible account of why thousands of scientists at hundreds of universities in dozens of countries would bother to engineer a climate hoax.

The New Yorker

And he provides a plausible account of how the defining features of the liberal democratic order might indeed be upended by the astonishing knowledge and tools that we have produced in the last half-century.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a plausible account", ensure that the explanation is not only believable but also supported by evidence or logical reasoning. Avoid relying solely on speculation.

Common error

Avoid presenting "a plausible account" as definitive truth. Acknowledge its inherent uncertainty and potential for alternative explanations, especially when dealing with complex or ambiguous situations.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "a plausible account" is to serve as a noun phrase, typically functioning as the object of a verb or the subject of a clause. Ludwig's examples showcase its use in describing narratives, explanations, or stories that are believable or reasonable.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

31%

News & Media

45%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a plausible account" is a noun phrase used to describe an explanation or narrative that seems believable and reasonable. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct and frequently used in various contexts, particularly in news media and scientific writing. While it implies believability, it does not guarantee absolute truth. When using this phrase, it's essential to ensure the account is supported by some evidence and to avoid presenting it as a definitive fact. Alternatives like "a credible explanation" or "a believable narrative" can be used to convey similar meanings. Remember to acknowledge the inherent uncertainty in any account labeled as merely "plausible".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a credible explanation

Replaces "account" with "explanation" and "plausible" with "credible", emphasizing the believability of the explanation.

a believable narrative

Substitutes "account" with "narrative" and "plausible" with "believable", focusing on the trustworthiness of the story.

a reasonable justification

Replaces "account" with "justification" and "plausible" with "reasonable", highlighting the logic and soundness of the reasoning.

a convincing story

Replaces "account" with "story" and "plausible" with "convincing", emphasizing the persuasive nature of the narrative.

a sound explanation

Replaces "plausible" with "sound", focusing on the solid and well-founded nature of the explanation.

a tenable interpretation

Replaces "account" with "interpretation" and "plausible" with "tenable", suggesting that the explanation is defensible or sustainable.

a valid rationale

Substitutes "account" with "rationale" and "plausible" with "valid", indicating that the explanation is logically sound and well-supported.

a likely version of events

Rephrases the idea to focus on the likelihood of the events as they are presented.

a defensible argument

Replaces "account" with "argument" and "plausible" with "defensible", implying that the explanation is capable of being supported against criticism.

a coherent explanation

Replaces "plausible" with "coherent", emphasizing the clarity and logical consistency of the explanation.

FAQs

How can I use "a plausible account" in a sentence?

Use "a plausible account" when you want to introduce an explanation or story that seems reasonable and believable, such as, "The witness offered "a plausible account" of the accident, which helped the investigators understand what happened."

What can I say instead of "a plausible account"?

You can use alternatives like "a credible explanation", "a believable narrative", or "a reasonable justification" depending on the context.

What makes an account "plausible"?

An account is considered "plausible" when it appears to be true or likely based on the available evidence or logic. It doesn't necessarily mean it is definitively true, but rather that it is reasonable and worthy of consideration.

Is "a plausible account" the same as "the truth"?

"A plausible account" is not necessarily the same as "the truth". It simply means that the account is believable or likely, but it could still be inaccurate or incomplete. Further investigation may be needed to confirm its accuracy.