be reason for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "be reason for" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is commonly used to indicate the cause or explanation for something. Here is an example: "The heavy rainfall was the reason for the flooding in the area."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

There may be reason for hope.

The New Yorker

There may be reason for concern.

The New York Times

And there does appear to be reason for optimism.

The New York Times - Travel

So far, there appears to be reason for some hope.

The New York Times

There can be reason for the nail biting.

The New York Times

There seems to be reason for their concern.

The New York Times

That pain itself could be reason for shock and death.

The New York Times

Believe it or not, this shouldn't be reason for despair.

The Washington Post

This new poll would appear to be reason for optimism.

The Washington Post

Now there may be reason for cautious optimism.

The New York Times

If Appiah can follow Keshi into the knockout, stage, it will be reason for double satisfaction.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "be reason for" to clearly establish a direct cause-and-effect relationship between two events or ideas. For instance, "The increased demand was the reason for the price hike."

Common error

Avoid using "reason that" when "reason for" is more appropriate to indicate cause. "Reason that" is often used to introduce an explanation or justification, while "reason for" directly links a cause to an effect. For example, use "The reason for the delay was…" not "The reason that the delay happened was…".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be reason for" functions as a causative expression, indicating a cause-and-effect relationship. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is used to explain why something happens or exists, as seen in examples like, "The denial and abuse of these rights by any government should be reason for us all to speak out."

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "be reason for" is a common and grammatically correct way to express causation or justification. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it effectively links a cause to an effect across diverse contexts, including news, science, and formal communications. While versatile, it's important to distinguish it from "be the reason that" to maintain clarity in writing. High-quality sources, such as The New York Times and The Guardian, frequently employ this phrase, underscoring its reliability and widespread acceptance. Alternatives like "be cause for" and "be grounds for" can offer subtle variations in meaning, enhancing precision in expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be justification for

Focuses on providing an acceptable explanation or excuse.

be cause for

Directly indicates something that produces an effect or result.

be grounds for

Suggests a valid basis or foundation for a decision or action.

be the basis for

Highlights the underlying foundation or support for something.

be the rationale for

Emphasizes the logical or principled reason behind something.

be attributable to

Indicates something can be credited or assigned as a cause.

give rise to

Focuses on the act of initiating or creating a particular situation.

account for

Highlights the explanation or cause of something, often unexpected.

explain the presence of

Focuses on clarifying the existence or occurrence of something.

be the purpose of

Highlights the intention or objective behind something.

FAQs

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

You can use "be reason for" to show a cause-and-effect relationship. For example, "The rain was the reason for the cancellation of the event" indicates that the rain caused the event to be cancelled.

What are some alternatives to "be reason for"?

You can use alternatives like "be cause for", "be justification for", or "be grounds for" depending on the context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "is reason for"?

Yes, "is reason for" is grammatically correct when it connects a subject with the reason for something. For example, "Her dedication is reason for her success."

What is the difference between "be reason for" and "be the reason that"?

"Be reason for" directly links a cause to an effect, while "be the reason that" introduces an explanation. For instance, "The accident was the reason for the traffic jam" versus "The reason that he was late is that he missed his train".