as a possible explanation

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "as a possible explanation" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when suggesting a reason or rationale for a particular situation or observation. Example: "The sudden drop in sales could be attributed to several factors, as a possible explanation being the recent price increase."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The "Convergence hypothesis" is discussed as a possible explanation of such a trend in the conclusion.

Nature

Serena Williams dismissed the absences as a possible explanation for Monday's performance.

The New York Times - Sports

These mutations in tcdC have been proposed as a possible explanation for the increased virulence of the epidemic strains.

Nature

Fourie, A. B., Blight, G. E. & Papageorgiou, G. Static liquefaction as a possible explanation for the Merriespruit tailings dam failure.

Nature

To close the theoretical gap, we propose a revised fluency attribution hypothesis as a possible explanation of our findings.

Consciousness and Cognition

Some have cited the reform of forest law, initiated by Vladimir Putin in 2007, as a possible explanation for the scale of the forest fires in Russia.

The Guardian

Federal investigators focused on dust from the mixing and drying of synthetic rubber and other ingredients as a possible explanation for the explosion.

The New York Times

"Due to the relatively low number of study subjects and other factors, chance cannot be excluded as a possible explanation for the findings".

The New York Times

Since then, the theory has been cited as a possible explanation for everything from multiple sclerosis to hay fever and autism.

The Washington Post

Poor drug distribution as a possible explanation for the results of the PRECISE trial.

Duke University

Inequality is often cited as a possible explanation for Latin America's lackluster economic performance.

Johns Hopkins University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "as a possible explanation" to introduce a suggestion cautiously, indicating that it is not the only or definitive answer. It's particularly effective when presenting multiple potential reasons.

Common error

Avoid using "as a possible explanation" when you have strong evidence supporting a different conclusion. This phrase implies uncertainty; reserve it for situations where the explanation is truly one of several possibilities.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "as a possible explanation" functions as a prepositional phrase introducing a potential reason or cause. It qualifies a statement, indicating uncertainty or presenting one option among several. Ludwig AI confirms its common usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

45%

News & Media

35%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Wiki

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "as a possible explanation" is a grammatically correct and frequently used prepositional phrase. Ludwig AI analysis of numerous examples highlights its function of introducing tentative explanations across diverse contexts, including science, news, and academic writing. While versatile, it's best employed when expressing uncertainty or presenting one potential reason among several. Alternative phrases like "as a potential reason" or "a plausible cause" can offer slight variations in emphasis. Remember to avoid overstating the likelihood of the explanation when using this phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

as a potential reason

Replaces "explanation" with "reason", shifting the focus slightly to a cause or motive.

as a plausible cause

Emphasizes the believability or likelihood of the explanation.

as a credible rationale

Highlights the justification or logic behind the explanation.

as a conceivable factor

Focuses on the possibility of the explanation being a contributing element.

one possible interpretation is

Introduces the explanation as a way of understanding something.

a possible cause might be

More directly suggests a cause-and-effect relationship.

this could be attributed to

Suggests that something is the result of a specific factor.

a contributing element may be

Presents the explanation as one of several influencing factors.

this might stem from

Indicates that the explanation is the origin or source of something.

this may be explained by

Offers a more passive way of suggesting an explanation.

FAQs

How can I use "as a possible explanation" in a sentence?

You can use "as a possible explanation" to introduce a potential reason for something, for example: "The decline in sales, "as a possible explanation", could be due to the recent economic downturn."

What are some alternatives to "as a possible explanation"?

Alternatives include "as a potential reason", "as a plausible cause", or "a contributing factor may be", each offering a slightly different nuance.

When is it appropriate to use "as a possible explanation"?

Use "as a possible explanation" when you want to suggest a reason or cause, but you're not entirely certain, and there may be other factors involved.

Is "as a possible explanation" formal or informal?

"As a possible explanation" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. However, for more formal writing, you might consider "as a credible rationale" or "as a conceivable factor".