a reasonable picture

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a reasonable picture" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when describing a situation, idea, or concept that is logical or makes sense based on the information available. Example: "After analyzing the data, we can conclude that we have a reasonable picture of the market trends."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

17 human-written examples

The opt-in/out survey should give a reasonable picture of the reasons why students do or do not wish to sit online exams.

International Journal of Educational Technology in Higher Education

The phase behaviours predicted have provided a reasonable picture for the low-temperature transitions.

Polymer

Locke has a reasonable picture of what acquisition of property involves.

Yale University

The results demonstrate that the MD ensemble provides a reasonable picture of Ros87 backbone dynamics in solution.

European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry

But overall, it offers a reasonable picture of how a typical person in the lower half of the income spectrum spends his money.

The Washington Post

We show that it is possible to obtain a reasonable picture of the temperature structure of the quiet corona in closed field regions and the fast solar wind using these ideas.

Advances in Space Research

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

43 human-written examples

However it develops, the excessive use of fashion as a framework for perception will ultimately warp that perception and, with it, any reasonable picture of the world.

The New Yorker

I adore WarGames, and at the time, it painted a fairly reasonable picture of both the state of security and the relationship between builders and breakers.

Forbes

This picture bears a reasonable resemblance to current models for the arsenic chalcogenide glasses As2S3 and As2Se3.

Encyclopedia Britannica

As much as anyone wants to look his or her best in a photograph we want the resultant picture to be a reasonable facsimile of the subject, preserving it for the future.

BBC

I know about how you and your Mom were on a porch because there are people in this world who you don't even know who are able to earn a reasonable living just by taking pictures of dead people's moms on porches.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a reasonable picture" when you want to convey that something is a logical, sensible, or adequately accurate representation of a situation, idea, or concept. For instance, it can be used to describe the outcome of a study or analysis.

Common error

Avoid presenting "a reasonable picture" as the definitive or only possible interpretation. While it suggests a sound understanding, acknowledge that other perspectives or details may exist that could enrich or alter the overall view.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a reasonable picture" functions as a noun phrase, where the adjective 'reasonable' modifies the noun 'picture.' Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

35%

News & Media

30%

Academia

18%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

6%

Wiki

6%

Formal & Business

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a reasonable picture" is a common and grammatically sound way to express that something provides an adequate, sensible, and logical understanding of a topic. As Ludwig AI points out, its usage spans diverse contexts, including science, news, and academia. While it conveys a good understanding, it also implies that the understanding may not be perfect or exhaustive. Therefore, it's crucial to avoid overstating its completeness and to acknowledge other perspectives. Alternatives such as "a fair depiction" or "a sound representation" offer similar but nuanced meanings, depending on the desired emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a fair depiction

Replaces 'reasonable' with 'fair' and 'picture' with 'depiction', focusing on impartiality and accuracy.

a sound representation

Substitutes 'reasonable' with 'sound' and 'picture' with 'representation', emphasizing reliability and validity.

an accurate portrayal

Replaces 'reasonable' with 'accurate' and 'picture' with 'portrayal', highlighting precision and truthfulness.

a plausible account

Changes 'reasonable picture' to 'plausible account', suggesting a believable explanation or description.

a credible version

Replaces 'reasonable picture' with 'credible version', focusing on believability and trustworthiness.

a logical understanding

Changes 'picture' to 'understanding', highlighting the cognitive aspect of comprehending something reasonably.

a rational interpretation

Replaces 'reasonable picture' with 'rational interpretation', emphasizing a logical and reasoned understanding.

a sensible impression

Substitutes 'reasonable' with 'sensible' and 'picture' with 'impression', focusing on the overall feeling or understanding.

a valid perspective

Replaces 'reasonable' with 'valid' and 'picture' with 'perspective', highlighting legitimacy and point of view.

a tenable view

Replaces the entire phrase with 'a tenable view', suggesting that the perspective is defensible and maintainable.

FAQs

How can I use "a reasonable picture" in a sentence?

You can use "a reasonable picture" to describe something that provides an adequate or logical understanding of a situation. For example: "The survey results gave us "a reasonable picture" of customer satisfaction."

What are some alternatives to saying "a reasonable picture"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "a fair depiction", "a sound representation", or "an accurate portrayal".

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "a reasonable picture"?

It's appropriate to use "a reasonable picture" when you want to convey that you have a good, though perhaps not perfect, understanding of something. It implies that the understanding is logical and makes sense based on the available information.

What's the difference between "a reasonable picture" and "a complete picture"?

"A reasonable picture" suggests an adequate and sensible understanding, while "a complete picture" implies that all aspects and details are known and understood. "A reasonable picture" is often used when acknowledging that some information may still be missing.