a plausible reason for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a plausible reason for" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing a justification or explanation that seems reasonable or believable in a given context. Example: "The researcher provided a plausible reason for the unexpected results in the experiment."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

And either possibility would be a plausible reason for a conscientious Congress to vote against this war.

The New York Times

The court might choose to defer to any decision that Katherine Harris, Florida's partisan secretary of state, makes, as long as she can offer a plausible reason for it.

The New York Times

You are correct to conclude that the Indiana Supreme Court defied both "the Constitution and common sense" when it ruled that city governments may impose wildly disproportionate tax assessments so long as they can articulate a "plausible" reason for this unequal treatment.

The New York Times

A plausible reason for this discrepancy is their using only the AL index to identify substorms.

Earth, Planets and Space

Although internal stress is frequently being suggested as a plausible reason for oxide breakdown during valve metal anodising, no direct quantitative evidence has been made available yet.

Electrochimica Acta

A plausible reason for the non-inclusion of void ratio is that direct measurements and data are not readily available, especially within subsurface environments.

Petroleum Science

A plausible reason for the low nD value of zinc acrylate is the low density originating from the long Zn-O bonds by the ionic character.

Nanoscale Research Letters

A plausible reason for this late development of ethics of technology is the instrumental perspective on technology that was mentioned in Section 2.2.

SEP

Fourth, there are important areas of research relevant to vaccination policy that have not been pursued, but should have been; a plausible reason for this "undone science" is that the findings might turn out to be unwelcome to vaccination promoters.

International Journal for Educational Integrity

A plausible reason for this is that regardless of test format, Test 1 was by far the most difficult while Test 3 was by far the easiest for the participants in this study.

Language Testing in Asia

This impairment of monocytes might be a plausible reason for the attenuated efficacy of this drug alone in treating CaCx-IIIB patients, and this imbalance of immune parameters associated with the stage of malignancy might be considered an effective marker to design a proper therapeutic regimen.

Translational Research

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When presenting "a plausible reason for" something, ensure it aligns with available evidence and logical reasoning to enhance credibility.

Common error

Avoid presenting "a plausible reason for" something as a definitive explanation when it is only a possibility. Use qualifying language to indicate the level of certainty.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a plausible reason for" functions as an introductory phrase to present a justification or explanation that appears reasonable and believable. It sets the stage for offering a cause or motive that is likely, although not necessarily definitively proven. Ludwig AI confirms this usage through numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

75%

News & Media

15%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a plausible reason for" serves as a valuable tool for introducing explanations that are believable and likely. Ludwig AI's analysis, based on numerous real-world examples, shows the phrase is grammatically correct and highly versatile, fitting well in scientific, journalistic, and formal business contexts. While the phrase is used to introduce credible explanations, it's important to avoid overstating certainty when presenting it. Exploring alternatives like "a convincing explanation for" or "a credible justification for" can also add nuance to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a convincing explanation for

Focuses on the clarity and persuasiveness of the explanation.

a credible justification for

Emphasizes the believability and legitimacy of the justification.

a likely cause of

Highlights the probability of the cause being the actual reason.

a reasonable basis for

Suggests a logical and rational foundation or explanation.

a tenable rationale for

Implies the rationale is defensible and can be maintained against scrutiny.

a possible explanation for

Indicates one potential explanation among others.

an acceptable excuse for

Suggests the reason is seen as adequate or permissible.

a valid rationale behind

Emphasizes that the rationale is sound and well-founded.

an understandable motivation for

Highlights the comprehensibility and clarity of the underlying motivation.

a conceivable ground for

Suggests the reason is within the realm of possibility and imagination.

FAQs

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

You can use "a plausible reason for" to introduce an explanation that seems believable or likely given the available information. For example, "A lack of funding is a plausible reason for the project's delay."

What are some alternatives to "a plausible reason for"?

Alternatives include "a convincing explanation for", "a credible justification for", or "a likely cause of". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is there a difference between "a plausible reason for" and "a possible reason for"?

"A plausible reason for" suggests the explanation is believable and makes sense, while "a possible reason for" simply indicates it's within the realm of possibility but may not be the most likely or well-supported explanation.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "a plausible reason for"?

Use "a plausible reason for" when you want to introduce an explanation or cause that appears credible and likely, but may not be definitively proven. It's suitable for situations where you're offering a reasonable inference based on available information.