absence of reason

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "absence of reason" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation or action that lacks logical justification or rationale. Example: "The decision to proceed with the project in the face of overwhelming evidence against it was an absence of reason that left many stakeholders baffled."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

A new climate change treaty must address three current gaps: the absence of emissions targets extending far into the future, the absence of participation by the United States, China, and other developing countries, and the absence of reason to expect compliance.

Harvard University

Many of the themes in "Witches and Old Women"–the absence of reason, nightmares, perverted eroticism and fear echo those found in the artist's 14 so-called "Black Paintings", which were created at the same time.The drawings give visitors a new way of appreciating the subversive power of Goya's imagination, from which they seemingly sprang, fully formed.

The Economist

A new menu is devised annually, the current one being based around perfumes and smells and the next taking surrealism as a theme, "examining the functioning of cocktails in the absence of reason". 2 Dead Rabbit - New York Named after an infamous Irish-American gang from the mid-19th century, the Dead Rabbit has a passion for history that is reflected in its techniques.

Independent

How is one to decide, in the absence of reason, facts, and logic, which faith is the correct one?

Forbes

In the absence of reason to believe this, the most that Searle's argument yields is an objection to Turing's confidently held belief that digital computing machines will one day pass The Turing Test.

SEP

The groupthink and absence of reason is remarkable.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

In the absence of reasons to expect some new dental disorder, it's not necessary to repeat full-mouth X-rays in less than 10 years, if at all.

The Washington Post

Some writers have suggested that pluralism is just straightforwardly plausible it appears to be correct and hence ought to be believed in the absence of reasons not to believe it.

SEP

However, in the absence of reasons to the contrary, common sense dictates that no sign pair should have a strictly zero probability.

Plosone

While SDT defines amotivation as the absence of motivation and therefore the absence of reasons to do a task, we also formulated items that express a stronger sense of aversion towards teaching.

BMC Medical Education

Our study provides an insight into the early phase of infection control programs in a middle-income country although we acknowledge that there are limitations to interpretations of our study that includes the collection of certain data retrospectively, absence of reasons for prescribing and patient demographic characteristics.

Antimicrobial Resistance and Infection Control

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "absence of reason", ensure the context clearly indicates what should be reasonably expected or logically deduced. For example, "The decision seemed driven by emotion, showing a clear "absence of reason"".

Common error

Avoid using "absence of reason" simply to dismiss emotional responses. While a decision might not be purely logical, it doesn't automatically mean it lacks reason entirely; emotions can also be valid factors in decision-making.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "absence of reason" functions primarily as a noun phrase. It typically serves as the subject or object of a sentence, describing a state or condition where logical thinking is lacking. This is supported by Ludwig AI, which identifies the phrase as correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

43%

Science

29%

Academia

14%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

14%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "absence of reason" is a noun phrase used to denote a lack of logical thinking or justification, as confirmed by Ludwig. While grammatically sound, its usage is relatively uncommon, typically appearing in news, scientific, and academic contexts. When using this phrase, ensure clarity in specifying what logical basis is missing and avoid misapplying it as a simple dismissal of emotional factors. Alternatives like "lack of rationale" or "irrationality" might be suitable depending on the specific shade of meaning intended. Ludwig AI validates the phrase's correctness and usability, reinforcing its place in formal and neutral communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

lack of rationale

Focuses on the missing justification or underlying logic.

devoid of logic

Emphasizes the complete absence of logical thought.

want of reason

A more formal or literary way to express the lack of reason.

irrationality

Highlights the quality of being illogical or unreasonable.

lack of justification

Specifically points to the absence of valid reasons or support.

unreasonableness

Focuses on the state of not being reasonable or sensible.

illogicality

Highlights the lack of logical coherence or consistency.

senselessness

Emphasizes the lack of meaning or purpose.

absurdity

Conveys the idea of being ridiculous or wildly illogical.

folly

Implies foolishness or a lack of good sense.

FAQs

How can I use "absence of reason" in a sentence?

You can use "absence of reason" to describe situations where logical thinking is missing, such as "The company's failure was due to a complete "absence of reason" in their planning process".

What phrases are similar to "absence of reason"?

Alternatives include "lack of rationale", "devoid of logic", or "irrationality", depending on the specific context.

Is it always negative to describe something as an "absence of reason"?

Yes, describing something as an "absence of reason" typically carries a negative connotation, implying that a decision or action is illogical, unjustified, or foolish.

How does "absence of reason" differ from "lack of judgment"?

"Absence of reason" refers specifically to the lack of logical thinking, while "lack of judgment" implies poor decision-making, which might stem from other factors besides just a lack of logic.