a rationale for why

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a rationale for why" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when explaining the reasoning or justification behind a particular decision or action. Example: "The committee provided a rationale for why they chose to implement the new policy, emphasizing its potential benefits."

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

49 human-written examples

Finally, this commentary provides a rationale for why tight oil technology improvement is likely to continue.

Columbia University

But they added up to an existential question mark rather than a rationale for why he should be president.

The New York Times

But embedded in the report is a rationale for why there should be a human spaceflight program at all.

MIT Technology Review

Our results provide insights into the behaviour of this unique demographic and provide a rationale for why they may support discriminatory policies in their voting behaviour.

Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization

Only one of the 78 freshmen and sophomores who completed the task addressed this gap and provided a rationale for why it mattered.

Stanford University

James Bernat, a neurologist at Dartmouth, proposed a rationale for why brain death and biological death could actually be one and the same.

Harvard University

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

11 human-written examples

Theory can be considered as a light on social reality – illuminating what is happening and providing a rationale for understanding why it is happening (Tobin 2008).

Asia-Pacific Science Education

In addition to providing fundamental insights into how the polymerase and exonuclease function together, these activities provide a rationale for understanding why the exonuclease minimally impacts accumulation of mismatches by the purified polymerase and raise the question of how these two activities function together in vivo.

Biochemistry

I think it could provide a strong rationale for why a company selling sugar water SHOULD focus on promoting physical activity.

Forbes

A digestible rationale for why continued growth is a no-brainer and the stock makes sense.

Forbes

But it also provides a humanizing rationale for why Regina, regarded as an alluring nuisance by her brothers, must be even more ruthless than the men.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a rationale for why", ensure that the explanation is clear, logical, and supported by evidence. This phrase is most effective when introducing a well-reasoned argument or justification.

Common error

Avoid stating the obvious when providing "a rationale for why". The purpose of the rationale is to offer insight, not to restate what is already apparent from the situation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a rationale for why" functions as a noun phrase that introduces an explanation or justification for a particular event, decision, or phenomenon. It serves to provide reasoning and support for a given action or stance. This is verified by Ludwig AI, confirming its correct and usable nature.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

32%

News & Media

32%

Academia

29%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a rationale for why" is a commonly used phrase that introduces a clear and logical explanation. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and well-suited for formal contexts such as academic papers, news articles, and scientific reports. It serves the purpose of informing or persuading by providing well-supported reasoning. While alternatives like "the reason why" exist, "a rationale for why" specifically implies a more developed and articulated justification, therefore when writing, one should consider the redundancy in the statement, avoiding state the obvious.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

the justification for why

Emphasizes the defense or validation of an action or decision.

the explanation for why

Provides a detailed account of the causes or reasons for something.

the reasoning behind why

Focuses on the thought process leading to a conclusion rather than the justification itself.

the reasons as to why

Similar meaning, but with a slightly more formal tone.

the basis for why

Highlights the foundation or grounds upon which something is based.

the grounds for why

Focuses on the acceptable reasons or justification for something.

the purpose for why

Specifies the intended aim or objective behind an action.

the aim for why

Highlights the intention or goal that motivates a certain action.

the cause for why

Emphasizes the event or circumstance that directly leads to a result.

the incentive for why

Highlights the motivation or encouragement for a particular action or belief.

FAQs

How can I use "a rationale for why" in a sentence?

Use "a rationale for why" to introduce a clear explanation or justification. For example, "The study provides "a rationale for why" the new policy is necessary".

What's a simpler way to say "a rationale for why"?

Simpler alternatives include "the reason why", "the explanation for why", or "the justification for why", depending on the context.

Is it ever better to use "reason" instead of "rationale"?

"Reason" is more common in everyday speech. "Rationale" is more formal and suggests a more thoroughly developed and articulated justification. Consider your audience and the level of formality required.

What distinguishes "a rationale for why" from "a theory for why"?

"A rationale for why" presents a justification or explanation that may be based on practical considerations or evidence. "A theory for why", on the other hand, proposes a more abstract, potentially unproven, explanation based on theoretical principles.