by what reason

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "by what reason" is not commonly used in written English and may sound awkward.
It can be used when asking for the justification or rationale behind a particular action or decision, but it is more typical to use other expressions. Example: "By what reason did you choose to implement this policy?"

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

By what reason, this certainty?

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

In stressing that an autonomous agent "must be in a position that allows her reasons to be governed by what reasons there are… [i.e.,] by what is valuable and worthless" (117-118), Wolf evokes a tradition that goes back to Plato.

SEP

But given the massacres committed by government troops, what reason do they have to trust any deal?Past conflicts in South Sudan suggest that what lies ahead is an ebbing and flowing of political violence.

The Economist

Thus, an investigation repeatedly requested by Pebble becomes an "embarrassment" and a "whitewash" by virtue not of its execution but of its outcome -- not how it was conducted, by whom, for what reason, or at whose urging, but because the requested investigation ultimately reached a conclusion contrary to Pebble's.

Huffington Post

But for Ladd, author of the masterly study "The Ghosts of Berlin: Confronting German History in the Urban Landscape," the work of "Autophobia" is precisely about looking again at what has been said, by whom and for what reason, and why none of the voluminous critiques of the car — by any number of estimable figures — seem to have much mattered.

The New York Times - Books

By whom or for what reason we do not know yet.

The New York Times

The noise surrounding an RSS item is stripped of the kinds of metadata cues that help us understand not just what is being fed us but by whom and for what reason.

TechCrunch

How an idiom's enduring concepts are explored, when, by whom, and for what reason can mark a new moment in art history.

HuffPost

After 5,000 years, the answers to "By who?" and "For what reason?" are unlikely to be known -- despite what future technology might bring -- and the murder of Otzi the Iceman will always remain a cold case.

Huffington Post

She has the feeling of having been overtaken by a force outside herself, and what reason is telling her to do is overridden.

Yale University

If the intuitions promoted by the thought experiments are synthetic, what reason is there to trust them?

SEP

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider using more common and contemporary alternatives like "for what reason" or "on what grounds" to ensure clarity and avoid sounding overly formal or archaic.

Common error

Avoid using "by what reason" in informal contexts. It can sound stilted and unnatural. Opt for simpler alternatives to maintain a conversational tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "by what reason" functions as an interrogative prepositional phrase, seeking the underlying cause or justification for an action, decision, or belief. It is used to question the rationale behind something, similar to asking "for what reason?"

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Academia

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "by what reason" is a grammatically valid but infrequent and somewhat archaic way to inquire about the justification for something. Ludwig AI indicates this phrase sounds awkward in modern English. While it's understood, more common alternatives such as "for what reason" or "on what grounds" are generally preferred. Its formality makes it more suitable for academic or formal writing than casual conversation. When writing or speaking, consider your audience and context to determine if a more contemporary phrase would be more effective.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

for what reason

Replaces "by" with "for", a more standard preposition in this context.

on what grounds

Substitutes the entire phrase with a more formal and widely accepted alternative.

upon what basis

Emphasizes the foundation or justification for a decision or belief.

by what justification

Replaces "reason" with "justification", focusing on the act of justifying.

what is the reason

Transforms the phrase into a direct question, which is more common.

what's the rationale

Uses "rationale", a more sophisticated term for underlying reasons or logic.

by what logic

Focuses specifically on the logical basis behind something.

by what principle

Highlights the guiding rule or belief that motivates an action.

by what standard

Implies a comparison against a defined measure or expectation.

by whose authority

Shifts the focus to the source of permission or right to act.

FAQs

What does "by what reason" mean?

The phrase "by what reason" is a slightly archaic way of asking for the justification or explanation for something. It's similar to asking /s/for+what+reason or /s/on+what+grounds.

How can I use "by what reason" in a sentence?

While grammatically correct, "by what reason" sounds somewhat formal. You might use it in writing, but in conversation, alternatives like "for what reason" or "what's the reason?" are generally preferred.

What can I say instead of "by what reason"?

You can use alternatives like "for what reason", "on what grounds", or "what is the reason depending on the context".

Is "by what reason" grammatically correct?

Yes, "by what reason" is grammatically correct, but it's not a common or contemporary phrase. It might sound somewhat old-fashioned or overly formal to modern ears. Therefore, its appropriateness will greatly depend on context and personal preferences.