answer on why

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "answer on why" is not correct in standard written English.
It is typically used when seeking an explanation or reasoning behind a particular situation or decision, but the preposition "on" is not appropriate in this context. Example: "Can you provide an answer to why the project was delayed?"

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

There are big questions to answer: on why our economic model of growth has failed to deliver for many people.

The Guardian - Opinion

"I don't think anyone can give us an answer on why there hasn't been a female moderator," Elena said in an interview on Monday in her mint-green suburban bedroom.

The New York Times

In contrast, Hillary Clinton rarely offers a direct answer on why she failed to champion certain causes when they weren't popular.

Huffington Post

There are a lot of other minerals in the water too, but for all that I talked to people about it nobody could really give me a straight answer on why it worked.

Vice

"I didn't get any definite answer on why they didn't want me to play they just told me that they felt I should focus on my fitness," Townsend said on "Good Morning America" on Saturday morning.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

"The names on this letter are the ones the American people should look to for answers on why the world is a mess, and we thank them for coming forward so everyone in the country knows who deserves the blame for making the world such a dangerous place," Trump said.

The Guardian

He added that he has been given answers on why the problems occurred, "but they are not good answers".

The New York Times - Health

The trial provided some answers on why the police officers fired: They mistakenly believed there was a gun in Mr. Bell's car.

The New York Times

Representative Michael McCaul, a Texas Republican who heads the House Homeland Security Committee, said he and other members of Congress were frustrated by the lack of answers on why Mr. Tsarnaev's trip to Russia slipped through the cracks.

The New York Times

Most recently, he confronted Mr. Geithner over how TARP was carried out — pushing for answers on why bailout terms were so favorable for big banks and so unfavorable for everyone else.

The New York Times

In a letter written to Johnson, Duvall demanded answers on why the GLA had reneged on an agreement to take on staff, who were signatories to the British Tourist Board pension scheme.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use "answer to why" instead of "answer on why" for grammatical correctness.

Common error

Avoid using the preposition "on" after "answer" when seeking an explanation. The correct form is "answer to why".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "answer on why" functions as a request for clarification or justification. While grammatically incorrect, it aims to elicit a reason or explanation for a particular situation or decision. Ludwig indicates that the phrase is not correct in standard written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

40%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "answer on why" is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "answer to why". Although the phrase appears in diverse sources, including news and scientific contexts, it's better to use alternatives like "explanation for why" or "reason for why" to maintain grammatical accuracy. As Ludwig AI highlights, the preposition "on" is not appropriate in this context. Always aim for "answer to why" to express the need for an explanation correctly.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

answer to why

Replaces "on" with the correct preposition "to" to indicate a response to a question.

explanation for why

Substitutes "answer" with "explanation" to emphasize the need for clarification.

reason for why

Uses "reason" instead of "answer" to focus on the underlying cause or rationale.

response to why

Employs "response" as a more formal alternative to "answer"

clarification on why

Focuses on the need for clearer understanding or details regarding a specific reason.

justification for why

Highlights the need for a valid or acceptable reason.

rationale behind why

Emphasizes the reasoning or logic behind a decision or event.

grounds for why

Indicates the basis or foundation for a particular action or belief.

basis for why

Focuses on the fundamental reason or support for something.

elucidation of why

Offers a more formal and detailed explanation.

FAQs

What is the correct way to ask for an explanation?

Instead of saying "answer on why", use "answer to why", "explanation for why", or "reason for why". "Answer to why" is the grammatically correct form.

What can I say instead of "answer on why"?

You can use alternatives like "explanation for why", "reason for why", or "response to why" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "answer on why" or "answer to why"?

"Answer to why" is the grammatically correct phrase. "Answer on why" is considered incorrect in standard English.

When should I use "explanation for why" instead of "answer to why"?

Use "explanation for why" when you need a detailed clarification or reasoning behind something, rather than a simple response.