clear basis for

USAGE SUMMARY

"clear basis for" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You would use it when you need to reference the foundation or evidence for something. For example, "We have a clear basis for believing that the company will turn a profit this year."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

41 human-written examples

Many studies have failed to establish a clear basis for observed improvements in altered perceptual sensitivity or discriminability.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Their presence merely focuses attention on every single pupil's entitlement to high quality English teaching which gives all students a clear basis for understanding how the language works.

Independent

According to members of Congress, Attorney General Michael Mukasey is preparing to give the F.B.I. broad new authority to investigate Americans — without any clear basis for suspicion that they are committing a crime.

The New York Times

The guidelines are used in most states and provide a more objective and more clear basis for decisions, although he acknowledges that they are imperfect and should be adjusted to reflect earnings losses associated with various injuries.

The New York Times

Attorney General Michael Mukasey recently issued new guidelines for the F.B.I. that permit agents to use a range of intrusive techniques to gather information on Americans — even when there is no clear basis for suspecting wrongdoing.

The New York Times

WASHINGTON — A Justice Department plan would loosen restrictions on the Federal Bureau of Investigation to allow agents to open a national security or criminal investigation against someone without any clear basis for suspicion, Democratic lawmakers briefed on the details said Wednesday.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

17 human-written examples

However, there is a lack of empirical evidence to support any particular theory or framework for guiding development of strategies to influence change in nursing practice and there is no clear-cut basis for suggesting which specific interventions for which barriers to change are most effective.

BMC Health Services Research

Neumann-Held argues that this conception provides the clearest basis for understanding how DNA sequences are "used in the processes of polypeptide production".

SEP

These may provide a clearer basis for establishing a bilingual advantage in processes of attention and executive control that underpin the development of pragmatics.

Plosone

He said this provided a "clear basis in international law for action".

BBC

| |} Prime Minister Obuchi was enthusiastic over the passage of the law because it established a "clear basis by written law" for use of the symbols.

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "clear basis for", ensure that the reason or justification you are providing is explicitly stated and easily understood by your audience.

Common error

Avoid using "clear basis for" when the justification is weak or not readily apparent. Ensure that the supporting evidence is genuinely strong and convincing before using this phrase.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "clear basis for" functions as a prepositional phrase that typically introduces a reason, justification, or foundation for something. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is grammatically sound and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

33%

News & Media

46%

Encyclopedias

4%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Wiki

4%

Science

9%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "clear basis for" is a frequently used phrase that effectively communicates the existence of a well-defined rationale or justification. As affirmed by Ludwig AI, it's grammatically correct and versatile. The phrase sees common usage in news, scientific, and encyclopedia contexts, as shown by Ludwig's examples, but is also appropriate across a variety of registers. Alternatives such as "solid justification for" or "sound rationale for" may be chosen to vary the wording while retaining the core meaning. When employing "clear basis for", ensure that the context genuinely supports a transparent and understandable reason to avoid misrepresenting the strength of the justification.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

solid justification for

Replaces "basis" with "justification", emphasizing the reason behind something.

sound rationale for

Uses "rationale" instead of "basis", focusing on the reasoning or logic.

valid foundation for

Substitutes "basis" with "foundation", highlighting the supporting structure.

legitimate grounds for

Replaces "basis" with "grounds", suggesting valid reasons or circumstances.

well-founded reason for

Emphasizes that the reason is well-supported and not arbitrary.

explicit justification for

Highlights that the justification is clearly stated and not implied.

unquestionable support for

Focuses on the indubitable nature of the support provided.

evident rationale for

Emphasizes that the rationale is obvious and easily perceived.

firm underpinnings for

Replaces "basis" with "underpinnings", suggesting a strong, underlying support structure.

demonstrable cause for

Highlights the fact that the cause can be shown or proven.

FAQs

How can I use "clear basis for" in a sentence?

You can use "clear basis for" to indicate the reason or justification behind a decision, action, or belief. For example, "The data provides a "clear basis for" implementing the new policy."

What are some alternatives to "clear basis for"?

Alternatives include "solid justification for", "sound rationale for", or "valid foundation for", depending on the specific context.

Is it better to say "clear basis for" or "obvious basis for"?

While both are acceptable, "clear basis for" generally implies a well-defined and easily understood reason, whereas "obvious basis for" suggests the reason is readily apparent without needing much explanation. Choose the phrase that best fits the level of explicitness required in your context.

Can "clear basis for" be used in both formal and informal contexts?

Yes, "clear basis for" is appropriate for both formal and informal settings. However, in highly informal contexts, you might opt for simpler phrasing like "good reason for".