brief reason for

USAGE SUMMARY

"brief reason for" is a perfectly correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when you need to provide a succinct explanation for the purpose of something. For example, "She provided a brief reason for why she was late to the meeting."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Be sure to include a brief reason for each change you make.

The New York Times

The Brief Reason for Living Inventory - Adolescent Version (BRFL-A) [ 23] is a self-report instrument that assesses suicide ideation and behaviour.

BMC Psychiatry

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

There are two brief reasons for this distinction.

Disease Markers

9. Give the employee a brief but specific reason for the termination.

The New York Times - Magazine

When a medication should only be used on an "as needed" basis, you should include a brief diagnosis or reason for taking the medication.

WikiHow

That, in brief, is a rare reason for cheer in global affairs.

The Economist

Based in part on continuing investigations by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Central Intelligence Agency, the brief spelled out fresh reason for concern about Qaeda attacks, very possibly using hijacked airplanes and conceivably in New York or Washington.

The New York Times

This section should include a brief summary of the reason for referral, summarising the clinical problem.

Insights into Imaging

Include brief detail on the reason for the message (e.g. great offer, sports scores, the latest weather), then leave room for a direct link to your mobile site.

Huffington Post

Despite preclinical assessment and subsequent re-evaluation in the light of these findings, the reason for the brief post-dose drop in FEV1 in some healthy subjects and all of the patients with COPD remains unclear.

BMC Pulmonary Medicine

The lawyers said in a letter sent to the federal court in Manhattan late Thursday that they would file a sealed brief explaining their reasons for not turning over the material, which they were to have released by yesterday.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "brief reason for", ensure the context provides sufficient information for the reader to understand the situation, even with the limited explanation. Consider adding a link or reference for more details if needed.

Common error

Avoid using "brief reason for" as a way to omit important details. While brevity is appreciated, ensure the explanation is still clear and comprehensive enough to prevent confusion or misinterpretation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "brief reason for" functions as a noun phrase, often acting as a subject complement or object of a preposition. It introduces a short explanation or justification for something. As Ludwig AI points out, this phrase follows standard grammar rules.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

58%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "brief reason for" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase in English, best employed when you need to offer a short and clear explanation. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness. While it's not overly common, appearing mostly in news, scientific, and wiki contexts, it serves as a valuable tool for succinct communication. When using it, ensure the context provides enough information despite the brevity, and avoid being so vague that you create confusion. Alternatives like ""simple reason for"" or ""brief explanation for"" can also be used to achieve a similar effect.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

brief explanation for

Uses "explanation" instead of "reason", focusing on a succinct clarification.

simple reason for

Replaces "brief" with "simple", suggesting an uncomplicated explanation.

short reason for

Employs "short" in place of "brief", highlighting the limited length of the explanation.

abbreviated reason for

Uses "abbreviated" instead of "brief", emphasizing the shortened nature of the reason.

brief rationale for

Substitutes "reason" with "rationale", implying a more formal and structured justification.

brief reasoning for

Replaces "reason" with "reasoning", suggesting a concise logical process.

few reasons for

Indicates that there are only a small number of reasons.

brief cause for

Replaces "reason" with "cause", indicating a concise explanation of the origin of something.

brief consideration for

Replaces "reason" with "consideration", focusing on a short period of assessment.

brief excuse for

Substitutes "reason" with "excuse", implying a justification for a mistake or shortcoming.

FAQs

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

You can use "brief reason for" to introduce a concise explanation, such as: "She gave a "brief reason for" her absence from the meeting." or "The report included a "brief reason for" the budget shortfall".

What can I say instead of "brief reason for"?

You can use alternatives like "short explanation for", "concise rationale for", or "quick justification for" depending on the specific context and level of formality you need. Consider also alternatives like "simple reason for".

Is it better to provide a "brief reason for" or a detailed explanation?

It depends on the audience and context. A "brief reason for" is suitable when the reader has some background knowledge or when time is limited. A detailed explanation is necessary when the audience needs comprehensive information or when the topic is complex.

What's the difference between "brief reason for" and "excuse for"?

"Brief reason for" implies a neutral, concise explanation, while "excuse for" suggests an attempt to justify a mistake or undesirable behavior. The tone and context determine which phrase is more appropriate. Alternatively, consider alternatives like "brief explanation for" to avoid the negative connotation of 'excuse'.