a poor rationale

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a poor rationale" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a reasoning or justification that is weak or inadequate. Example: "The committee rejected the proposal due to a poor rationale that failed to address the key concerns raised by stakeholders."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Analyst Ed Birkin said: We feel that cost synergies alone are a poor rationale for M&A in a growth industry such as online gaming.

The Guardian - Business

We reject the notion, implicit in much of today's debate, that higher tax rates on the wealthy are justified because of the finance industry's role in the crunch: retribution is a poor rationale for taxation.

The Economist

Sheldon Bunin Jackson Heights, Queens To the Editor: Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe's contention that "most people will not remember what all the fuss was about" is a poor rationale for replacing a much-beloved Greenwich Village people's park with a lower Fifth Avenue patrician's promenade.

The New York Times

Accordingly, while we salute the thoroughness and detail of Henderson's work (and find the mass estimates of his other pterosaurs reasonable), we find his predictions of giant azhdarchid mass to be flawed and a poor rationale for grounding giant pterosaurs.

Plosone

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Staff are given more and more to do … with little support, fewer resources and poor rationale.

The Guardian

"Softbank themselves did a poor job explaining the rationale on the conference call in our view and it seems to have been an opportunistic strike.

The Guardian - Business

His scepticism toward missile defence, a programme on which the US has spent billions in spite of a poor testing record and a shaky rationale, is healthy.

The Guardian - Opinion

These range from a poor understanding among health staff regarding the rationale and importance for adequate statistics to systematic errors within the health care system.

Global Health Action

The Bush Administration's cockamamie rationale has the ring of a poor Polish joke.

Huffington Post

But since its weapons of mass destruction rationale fell flat, Washington has done a poor job articulating the stakes.

The Guardian - Opinion

The rationale for choosing the MPE, a regionally advanced stage of lung cancer that portends a poor prognosis, as a model to investigate intratumoral heterogeneity is twofold.

Plosone

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a poor rationale", ensure that you can clearly articulate why the rationale is weak or insufficient. Provide specific examples or counterarguments to support your assessment.

Common error

Avoid exaggerating the impact of "a poor rationale". While it signifies a weakness in reasoning, it does not automatically invalidate an entire argument or decision. Assess its actual influence in the context.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a poor rationale" functions as a noun phrase that serves to describe a reason or justification as being inadequate, weak, or unconvincing. The phrase is often used to critique or dismiss a particular line of reasoning, similar to examples shown in Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a poor rationale" is used to describe a justification or reason that is considered weak, inadequate, or unconvincing. Ludwig examples highlight usage in News & Media and Scientific contexts. While grammatically correct, its occurrence is relatively rare. When employing this phrase, clearly articulate why the rationale is deficient. Alternatives include "a weak justification" or "an inadequate basis". Avoid overstating the impact of the "a poor rationale"; focus on its specific weaknesses within the given context. This phrase, as verified by Ludwig AI, is a useful tool for expressing critical assessments of reasoning and decision-making processes.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a flimsy justification

Emphasizes the lack of substance or credibility in the justification.

a weak justification

Highlights the lack of strength and support in the justification.

an inadequate basis

Focuses on the insufficiency of the foundation or reason.

a flawed reasoning

Points out errors and defects in the thought process.

a deficient explanation

Underscores the incompleteness or unsatisfactoriness of the explanation.

an insufficient reason

Highlights that the reason provided isn't good enough or strong enough.

a specious argument

Indicates that the argument seems correct but is actually false or misleading.

a tenuous ground

Emphasizes the weak and uncertain nature of the basis or reason.

a baseless claim

Highlights the lack of facts or evidence to support the assertion.

a questionable motive

Suggests doubt and uncertainty about the true reason behind an action.

FAQs

How can I use "a poor rationale" in a sentence?

You can use "a poor rationale" to critique the reasoning behind a decision or action. For example: "The project failed because it was based on "a poor rationale"."

What are some alternatives to saying "a poor rationale"?

Alternatives include "a weak justification", "a flimsy reasoning", or "an inadequate basis". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it better to say "poor rationale" or "weak rationale"?

Both "poor rationale" and "weak rationale" are acceptable, but "weak rationale" may sound slightly more formal. "Poor" emphasizes the lack of quality, while "weak" emphasizes the lack of strength.

What makes a rationale "poor"?

A rationale is considered "poor" when it's based on faulty logic, insufficient evidence, inaccurate information, or fails to address relevant counterarguments or concerns.