a prime reason for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a prime reason for" is correct and usable in written English.
This phrase is used to introduce an explanation for a certain result. For example: The high unemployment rate in the city is a prime reason for the growing poverty.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

36 human-written examples

The company also cited soft rental car fleet sales as a prime reason for the drop.

The New York Times

His willingness to collaborate, ignoring inter-party rivalries that are largely meaningless outside Westminster, is a prime reason for that.

The Economist

Indeed, executives cite fear of putting off overseas audiences as a prime reason for avoiding minority material.

The Guardian - Film

A prime reason for this failure is unresolved, often undetected, differences among stakeholders' sets of assumptions their "models"—of various aspects of the project.

Advances in Computers

A prime reason for the attention to class size is that it represents such an extremely convenient policy instrument, one amenable to general political action.

Stanford University

The number and proximity to each other of animals, such as battery chickens, kept in sheds, is a prime reason for intensive farming needing antibiotics, he said.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

24 human-written examples

These oral bacterial colonies expel out a pungent gas as their excretory waste, the prime reason for a badly smelling mouth.

WikiHow

Police union officials have long said that low pay is the prime reason for a recent exodus of officers.

The New York Times

For me, the prime reason for pursuing an MBA was getting a career boost.

The Economist

Yet Ms. Cusack's Cleopatra is the prime reason for seeing a production due to reopen at London's Haymarket Theater in September.

The New York Times

A survey released on September 11th by Sodexo, an education-outsourcing company, found that for more than half of them the prime reason for pursuing a degree was to improve job or salary prospects, or that they had to for their chosen profession.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a prime reason for", ensure that the reason you are presenting is indeed the most significant or influential factor in the situation. This strengthens your argument and provides clarity to your audience.

Common error

Avoid using "a prime reason for" when the reason is merely contributory and not the most significant. Overstating the importance can weaken your argument and mislead your audience.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a prime reason for" functions as a causal indicator, introducing the main cause or justification for a particular situation or outcome. Ludwig examples show it commonly precedes an explanation.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Science

21%

Academia

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

6%

Encyclopedias

4%

Wiki

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a prime reason for" is a versatile phrase used to introduce the most important cause or justification for a situation. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage across various domains, particularly in news, science, and academic writing. While alternatives like "a main reason for" or "a key reason for" exist, it's essential to ensure that the stated reason is indeed the most significant to maintain clarity and strengthen your argument. Therefore, use "a prime reason for" judiciously to convey the primary cause effectively.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a main reason for

Replaces "prime" with "main", indicating a key but not necessarily the most important reason.

a key reason for

Substitutes "prime" with "key", highlighting a significant and essential reason.

a major reason for

Uses "major" instead of "prime", suggesting a considerable and substantial reason.

a primary reason for

Employs "primary" in place of "prime", emphasizing the fundamental and initial reason.

a principal reason for

Replaces "prime" with "principal", underscoring the leading and foremost reason.

a leading cause of

Shifts from "reason" to "cause", specifying the origin or source of something.

a significant factor in

Changes from "reason" to "factor", indicating an element contributing to a result.

a crucial element of

Replaces "reason" with "element", suggesting an indispensable part of something.

the driving force behind

Modifies the structure to emphasize the impetus and motivation behind an action or event.

the main impetus for

Uses "impetus" instead of "reason", highlighting the initial force or stimulus.

FAQs

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

Use "a prime reason for" to introduce the most important cause or justification for something. For example: "The company's bankruptcy was a prime reason for the city's economic decline."

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

You can use alternatives such as "a main reason for", "a key reason for", or "a major reason for" depending on the context.

Is there a difference between "a prime reason for" and "a reason for"?

"A prime reason for" emphasizes that the reason being presented is the most important one, whereas "a reason for" simply indicates one of potentially many reasons.

Can I use "the prime reason for" instead of "a prime reason for"?

Yes, "the prime reason for" can be used when referring to a single, definitive reason. "A prime reason for" is more appropriate when highlighting one significant reason among others.