a weak rationale

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a weak rationale" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the reasoning or justification behind a decision, argument, or action that lacks strength or validity. Example: "The committee rejected the proposal due to a weak rationale that failed to address the key concerns raised by stakeholders."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

It was a weak rationale.

The New Yorker

Whereas the zinc lozenges may produce side effects, there is only a weak rationale for physicians to recommend zinc for the treatment of the common cold.

Wikipedia

"Although it is possible that oral zinc preparations impact symptoms of the common cold," Science said, "there is currently insufficient evidence to recommend its use in children, and only a weak rationale for use in otherwise healthy adults".

Huffington Post

The report chastised the bureau for having a "weak" rationale for some of its investigations; investigating where there was "little indication of any possible federal crimes"; and extending "the duration of investigations involving advocacy groups or their members without adequate basis".

Huffington Post

None of the five fatigue studies could be classed as either MA or TA [ 26- 30] and all studies had a weak rationale for the chosen treatment.

BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine

When examined by symptom, five of the nine vasomotor studies, all from one group of researchers, are arguably in the MA category, and two a TA model; in contrast, none of the five fatigue studies could be classed as either MA or TA and all studies had a weak rationale for the chosen treatment for fatigue.

BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

And the one that is "good" seems to actually have a weaker rationale than the one who is "evil".

TechCrunch

It would involve the government arguing, as in Windsor, that the heightened-scrutiny test should be applied to Proposition 8, the logical extension of which is a rejection of Prop 8's marriage restriction, as its only justification is based on the weak rationale of custom or, worse, prejudice.

The New Yorker

Duffy is scathing of the claims that subsidies should continue to be provided to '…[c]ertain kinds of congregate provision…because they won't survive if people have choice about the services they use – this seems a weak argument, particularly given that the rationale for such services is their supposed "efficiency"' [ 17][p.21].

BMC Health Services Research

The rationale for these studies was a γ-secretase-modulating effect resulting in a weak inhibition of the generation of the amyloid β1 42 peptide (Imbimbo, 2008).

EMBO Molecular Medicine

A weak leader.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When critiquing an argument or decision, use "a weak rationale" to specifically address the underlying reasoning, rather than simply dismissing the conclusion. This focuses the criticism on the logic itself.

Common error

Avoid exaggerating the deficiency of the rationale. Instead of claiming it's 'completely baseless', accurately describe the specific flaws that make it "a weak rationale".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a weak rationale" functions as a noun phrase, where the adjective "weak" modifies the noun "rationale". It describes the quality of a reason or justification, indicating its lack of strength or persuasiveness, consistent with examples found by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

33%

Wiki

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a weak rationale" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe a reason or justification that lacks strength or persuasiveness. Ludwig confirms its correctness and demonstrates its usage across varied contexts, including news media and scientific publications. While not extremely common, it offers a precise way to critique flawed reasoning. Alternatives like "a flimsy justification" or "a poor explanation" can be used depending on the nuance you want to convey. Remember to focus on specific flaws when critiquing a rationale and avoid exaggerating its weaknesses.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a flimsy justification

Emphasizes the lack of solidity or substance in the provided justification.

a poor justification

Indicates that the justification is of low quality or inadequate.

a tenuous argument

Highlights the fragility and easily challenged nature of the argument.

an unconvincing reason

Focuses on the ineffectiveness of the reason to persuade or convince.

a shaky basis

Suggests that the foundation for the reasoning is unstable or unreliable.

a deficient explanation

Points out the incompleteness or inadequacy of the explanation.

a flawed premise

Indicates a fundamental error or weakness in the underlying assumption.

a feeble excuse

Highlights the inadequacy and unacceptability of the given excuse.

a unsubstantiated claim

Emphasizes the lack of evidence or support for the assertion.

a speculative assumption

Suggests that the assumption is based on conjecture rather than concrete evidence.

FAQs

What's a good way to use "a weak rationale" in a sentence?

You can use "a weak rationale" to critique arguments. For example: "The proposal was rejected because it presented "a weak rationale" for the budget increase".

What can I say instead of "a weak rationale"?

Alternatives include "a flimsy justification", "a poor explanation", or "an unconvincing reason" depending on the specific context.

Is it better to say "weak rationale" or "poor rationale"?

Both "weak rationale" and "poor rationale" are acceptable, but "weak rationale" focuses more on the lack of logical strength, while "poor rationale" implies a generally low quality of reasoning.

How does "a weak rationale" differ from "a false rationale"?

"A weak rationale" suggests the reasoning is unconvincing, whereas "a false rationale" /s/a+false+rationale indicates the stated reason is untrue or deliberately misleading.