a primary justification for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a primary justification for" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when explaining the main reason or rationale behind a particular action, decision, or belief. Example: "The study presents a primary justification for implementing renewable energy sources in urban planning."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

Mr. Launius said spinoffs should not be viewed as a primary justification for the space program.

The New York Times

Chinese authorities have long cited flood control on the Yangtze as a primary justification for the project.

The New York Times

By the 19th century, many historians agree, the belief that African-Americans were descendants of Ham was a primary justification for slavery among Southern Christians.

The New York Times - Arts

Indeed, parts of the memo support the much stronger case presented by Bush administration officials who have repeatedly cited the ties as a threat to the United States and as a primary justification for the American invasion of Iraq.

The New York Times

The dark irony of all of this is that Yousef al-Otaiba, the UAE ambassador to the United States, has repeatedly accused Qatar of funding terrorism, and his country and their cabal have used that argument as a primary justification for their illegal blockade on the state of Qatar.

The Washington Post

The law has been described by Taiwanese officials as a threat to the status quo and, indeed, a primary justification for Mr Chen's decision.A bigger worry for Chinese leaders is that Mr Chen might renege on other pledges not to amend the island's constitution.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

Jeffrie Murphy (2007: 11) adds a note of qualification, writing: "[A] retributivist is a person who believes that the primary justification for punishing a criminal is that the criminal deserves it".

SEP

Many distinguished scholars and practitioners assert that the answer is "a great deal". The primary justification for this conclusion is that most bureaucratic policy choices involve fundamentally political value trade-offs, and in a democracy there is a strong presumption that such choices should reflect the interests of electoral majorities.

Harvard University

This was the primary justification for a big tax cut.

The New York Times

The primary justification for this was a military order drafted by Cheney and Addington in November 2001, which also created the Military Commissions.

Huffington Post

Mr. Kohut notes that while "the public still considers deterrence the primary justification for the death penalty," a recent poll found that the majority did not believe that the death penalty lowered the murder rate.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To enhance clarity, follow "a primary justification for" with a concise and direct explanation of why the justification is the most important.

Common error

Avoid presenting a secondary reason as "a primary justification for". Ensure that the justification you highlight is truly the most significant and well-supported one.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a primary justification for" functions as a noun phrase that introduces the main reason or rationale behind a particular action, decision, or belief. This phrase serves to highlight the most important factor supporting a given argument or position. As Ludwig AI explains, the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

30%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a primary justification for" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase that introduces the main reason or rationale behind something. Ludwig AI confirms its validity for written English. It is most frequently found in News & Media, Science, and Academic contexts. When using this phrase, ensure you are highlighting the most important and well-supported reason. Alternatives such as ""a key rationale for"" or ""the main reason for"" can be used to add variety to your writing. Avoid redundancy by not using "main" and "primary" together.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a key rationale for

Replaces "primary justification" with "key rationale", emphasizing the reasoning behind something.

the main reason for

Substitutes "primary justification" with "main reason", offering a more direct and straightforward expression.

a principal basis for

Uses "principal basis" instead of "primary justification", highlighting the fundamental support or foundation.

the foremost rationale for

Replaces "primary" with "foremost", adding emphasis on the importance of the rationale.

a central argument for

Changes "justification" to "argument", framing it as a point of persuasion or support.

the underlying motive for

Focuses on the motivation rather than the explicit justification, implying a more subtle reason.

a chief explanation for

Replaces "justification" with "explanation", suggesting a clarification or accounting for something.

the core defense for

Frames the justification as a defense, implying a need to protect or vindicate something.

a fundamental premise of

Presents the justification as a basic assumption or foundation upon which something else is built.

the essential purpose of

Shifts the focus to the intended outcome or goal, rather than the reason behind an action.

FAQs

How can I use "a primary justification for" in a sentence?

Use "a primary justification for" to introduce the main reason or rationale behind a decision, action, or belief. For example, "The study presents a primary justification for implementing renewable energy sources".

What are some alternatives to "a primary justification for"?

You can use alternatives like "a key rationale for", "the main reason for", or "a principal basis for" depending on the specific context.

Is it redundant to use "the main primary justification for"?

Yes, using both "main" and "primary" is redundant because they both indicate the most important or principal reason. Stick to either "the main justification for" or "a primary justification for".

What's the difference between "a justification for" and "a primary justification for"?

"A justification for" simply provides a reason or explanation. "A primary justification for" indicates the most important or fundamental reason among potentially several justifications.