a reasonable course of action

USAGE SUMMARY

"a reasonable course of action" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It can be used to describe a sensible or practical plan or decision. Example: After careful consideration, the committee decided that implementing an emergency evacuation plan was a reasonable course of action to ensure the safety of all school students in the event of a natural disaster.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

It is also a reasonable course of action in a country where almost a million properties are empty, and a million citizens are homeless or precariously housed.

The Guardian - Opinion

Why, in other words, do some men seem to find violence as a reasonable course of action when dealing with a perceived threat?

Huffington Post

A reasonable course of action for the union bosses would have been to contact the students' coach and say, "Coach, we heard a rumor that your players might be tearing down our signs.

Los Angeles Times

The fact that you think context would make your actions less horrifying implies that you think assaulting a student and trying to incite a mob to violence against him would, with the right context, be a reasonable course of action.

Huffington Post

A reasonable course of action would be to systematically probe potential structure activity relationships within each class of nanoparticles, with the hope that perhaps some findings would be more generalizable.

ACS Nano

At first glance, a reasonable course of action appears to be the replacement of lost blood with fluids as quickly as possible; that is, at the accident site [ 9].

Critical Care

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

But the point remains: The company's executives had deemed seizing millions of personal images from its customers to be a perfectly reasonable course of action.

Forbes

Ideally, the software can assist the agent to take the most reasonable course of action to help a customer, whether that customer is external or internal.

TechCrunch

As we cannot guarantee the long-term integrity of any waste dump, the only reasonable course of action is to put an end to nuclear power.

The New York Times

The reasonable course of action, under these circumstances, would be to immediately stand by the CCC and send a clear message of stability to the economy.

The Guardian

The only reasonable course of action is for the Government to fully accept the recommendations, as the evidence clearly states that the core objectives remain unchanged for 2023-2027.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a reasonable course of action", ensure the context clearly establishes why the action is considered sensible and appropriate. Provide supporting details or rationale to strengthen the argument.

Common error

Avoid using "a reasonable course of action" to describe actions that are clearly controversial or lack sufficient justification. Doing so can undermine your credibility and make your argument less persuasive.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a reasonable course of action" functions as a noun phrase that typically serves as a subject complement or object in a sentence. It identifies a plan or decision considered sensible and appropriate in a given situation. As Ludwig AI suggests, the phrase is correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

50%

Academia

17%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a reasonable course of action" is a grammatically sound and semantically rich expression used to convey the idea of a sensible and appropriate plan or decision. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it’s a correct and usable phrase. While not extremely common, it appears in a range of formal contexts, including news, science, and academia. When employing this phrase, be sure to provide context to clarify why the action is considered reasonable and avoid overstating its appropriateness in controversial situations. Consider alternatives like "a sensible plan" or "a logical step" to fine-tune your message.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a sensible plan

Focuses on the planning aspect, suggesting a well-thought-out approach.

a logical step

Highlights the rationality and step-by-step nature of the action.

a practical approach

Emphasizes the feasibility and real-world applicability of the action.

a judicious decision

Stresses the careful and considered nature of the decision-making process.

a sound strategy

Implies a well-founded and effective plan for achieving a specific goal.

an appropriate measure

Highlights the suitability and relevance of the action in a given situation.

a viable option

Focuses on the achievability and workability of the proposed action.

a responsible step

Emphasizes accountability and ethical considerations in the decision.

a well-advised plan

Highlights the wisdom and good counsel behind the chosen action.

a justified action

Emphasizes the presence of valid reasons or evidence to support the action.

FAQs

How can I use "a reasonable course of action" in a sentence?

You can use "a reasonable course of action" to describe a plan or decision that is sensible and appropriate for a given situation. For example, "Given the circumstances, seeking legal counsel was "a reasonable course of action"".

What are some alternatives to "a reasonable course of action"?

Alternatives to "a reasonable course of action" include "a sensible plan", "a logical step", or "a practical approach" depending on the specific context.

When is it appropriate to use "a reasonable course of action"?

It is appropriate to use "a reasonable course of action" when you want to emphasize that a particular action is well-considered, logical, and suitable for the circumstances. It is often used in formal or professional settings to justify a decision or plan.

What distinguishes "a reasonable course of action" from "the best course of action"?

"A reasonable course of action" suggests that an action is sensible and appropriate, while "the best course of action" implies that it is the most effective or optimal choice among all possibilities. "A reasonable course of action" may be sufficient in many situations, even if it's not the absolute best option.