as a reason for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "as a reason for" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate the justification or explanation for a particular action or decision. Example: "She cited her lack of experience as a reason for not applying for the job."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

He even suggested menstruation as a reason for her questions.

The Guardian

Poor bone quantity and quality have been suggested as a reason for this differential success rate.

Journal of Cranio-Maxillofacial Surgery

Inadequate bone levels have been suggested as a reason for this differential success rate.

The Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry

Outlaw prior illnesses as a reason for exclusion?

Huffington Post

Menstruation was never mentioned as a reason for leaving school.

Plosone

No single event dominated as a reason for discontinuation.

British Journal of Cancer

Nine (43%) cited side effects as a reason for stopping.

Emerging Infectious Diseases

Poverty was mentioned as a reason for sex trafficking in different regions of the world.

BMC Women's Health

Four respondents listed lack of, or poor, communication as a reason for decreased satisfaction.

BMC Health Services Research

Sometimes an unstable social environment was given as a reason for not changing medication during pregnancy.

BMC Health Services Research

Some parents cited these concerns as a reason for delaying vaccination.

BMC Pediatrics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "as a reason for", ensure the sentence clearly establishes the relationship between the reason and the resulting action or state. For instance, "They cited budget constraints as a reason for delaying the project."

Common error

Avoid using "as a reason for" in conjunction with other redundant phrases. For example, instead of saying "The primary reason was as a reason for", simply state "The primary reason was".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "as a reason for" functions as a prepositional phrase indicating the cause, justification, or explanation for an action, event, or decision. Ludwig's examples show it connecting a stated cause to its effect, like "Poverty was mentioned as a reason for sex trafficking."

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

86%

News & Media

12%

Formal & Business

2%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "as a reason for" is a versatile and commonly used prepositional phrase that serves to explain causes, provide justifications, and offer rationale. As Ludwig AI confirms, its grammatical structure is correct, and it is prevalent in scientific and news contexts, suggesting a primarily neutral to formal register. When writing, avoid redundancy and ensure the causal relationship is clear. Consider more sophisticated alternatives like "as a justification for" or "on the grounds of" to enhance clarity and formality when appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

as a justification for

Replaces "reason" with "justification", emphasizing a more formal or defensive explanation.

as an explanation for

Substitutes "reason" with "explanation", highlighting the act of clarifying or elucidating.

as a cause of

Focuses on the causal relationship, indicating that something directly leads to something else.

due to

A common and direct way to indicate causation or reason.

because of

Another common way to explain the cause or reason of something

on the grounds of

Introduces a more legalistic or formal tone, suggesting a basis for action or decision.

by virtue of

Implies that something is a consequence of a specific quality or characteristic.

in light of

Highlights that something is done considering specific information or circumstances.

owing to

Indicates that something is caused or determined by a particular factor.

for the sake of

Highlights the purpose or motivation behind an action, often implying a benefit or goal.

FAQs

How can I use "as a reason for" in a sentence?

Use "as a reason for" to explain why something happened or why someone made a decision. For instance, "The company cited low sales "as a reason for" the layoffs".

What are some alternatives to "as a reason for"?

You can use alternatives like "due to", "because of", or "on the grounds of" depending on the context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "as the reason for"?

While "as a reason for" is generally accepted, "as the reason for" can be grammatically correct if you are referring to a specific, previously mentioned reason. However, "as a reason for" is more commonly used.

Can I use "as a reason for" in formal writing?

Yes, "as a reason for" is appropriate for formal writing, but consider using more sophisticated alternatives like "as a justification for" or "on the grounds of" in certain contexts to enhance clarity and formality.