closer to the reason

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "closer to the reason" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing the proximity or relevance of a particular explanation or justification to the main reason behind something. Example: "After reviewing the evidence, I believe we are getting closer to the reason for the project's failure."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Gartner's analysts got closer to the reason.

The Guardian - Opinion

What made Madeleine sit up in bed was something closer to the reason she read books in the first place...

The New York Times - Magazine

What made Madeleine sit up in bed was something closer to the reason she read books in the first place and had always loved them.

The New Yorker

"The Marriage Plot" proposes its answer in the scene where Madeleine discovers Roland Barthes's "Lover's Discourse": "It wasn't only that this writing seemed beautiful.... What made Madeleine sit up in bed was something closer to the reason she read books in the first place..

The New York Times - Magazine

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

You can find yourself spending effort on things you normally wouldn't in academia for reasons that are not close to the reasons you grew up thinking were the most important".

Science Magazine

But this is closer to the real reason: School districts are increasingly strapped for dollars, and in prioritizing, they eliminate the programs that are not tested in school.

Huffington Post

On Thursday, we came a little closer to understanding the reason that Aamer's youngest child, Faris – who was born on Valentine's Day 2002, the day that Aamer was rendered to the detention center at Guantánamo Bay – has never even met his father.

The Guardian - Opinion

If the answer to any or all of these questions is 'yes', then we are a step closer to understanding the reasons behind this controversy.

European Journal of Orthodontics

Now a judging entity is nobler than one that merely accepts a state: it is a principle of Reason or of Intellection: pleasure is a state: the reasonless can never be closer to the Good than reason is.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Another Beatles song, "I Want You (She's So Heavy)," hewed closer to the original: one reason, perhaps, for the singalong that arose all at once, without countdown or cue.

The New York Times - Arts

And yet, some women aren't any closer to discovering the reason behind their infertility.

HuffPost

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "closer to the reason" to suggest an improved understanding of a situation, implying a movement from a less accurate explanation to a more accurate one. It's often more effective when preceding a reveal or insight.

Common error

Don't use "closer to the reason" as a filler phrase. Ensure the sentence clearly indicates what you were previously distant from and what new information brings you closer to the actual explanation. Without this context, the phrase loses its impact and becomes vague.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "closer to the reason" is to act as a prepositional phrase modifying a verb or noun. It typically indicates a state of progressing towards a more accurate or complete understanding of something. Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase is usable in written English, implying that a true explication is being approached.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Academia

25%

Science

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "closer to the reason" functions as a prepositional phrase, denoting progress toward a more accurate explanation or understanding. Ludwig AI indicates that this is a valid and usable phrase in English, albeit relatively rare in occurrence. While applicable across various contexts—including news, academia, and science—its usage demands a clear indication of both the previous state of understanding and the factors contributing to the improved comprehension. Avoid using the phrase as a filler; instead, ensure it adds substantial meaning by specifying the context of the evolving understanding. Related phrases include "nearer to the explanation" and "more aligned with the rationale", offering similar but subtly distinct alternatives. The examples on Ludwig confirm a correct usage of the phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

nearer to the explanation

Focuses more specifically on the act of explaining rather than the underlying reason.

more aligned with the rationale

Emphasizes the alignment with a set of principles or logic.

approaching the justification

Highlights the aspect of providing a valid justification.

getting warmer to the truth

Uses a metaphorical expression to indicate progress in finding the truth.

verging on the motive

Implies nearing the discovery of someone's motivation.

advancing toward the cause

Suggests movement toward understanding the origin or source of something.

closing in on the why

Informal way of saying that you are about to understand why something happened.

nearing the grounds

Focuses on the underlying basis or foundation for something.

drawing nearer to the core

Highlights approaching the central or most important aspect.

converging on the answer

Indicates multiple paths leading to a single answer.

FAQs

How can I use "closer to the reason" in a sentence?

You can use "closer to the reason" to indicate that you are nearing a better understanding or explanation of something. For example, "After analyzing the data, we are getting "closer to the reason" for the project's delay".

What's a more formal alternative to "closer to the reason"?

A more formal alternative could be "nearer to the explanation" or "more aligned with the rationale". These options provide a similar meaning but are suited for professional or academic contexts.

Is it always better to be "closer to the reason" or is there a context where distance is preferred?

In most contexts, being ""closer to the reason"" is desirable as it implies better understanding. However, in sensitive situations, such as legal investigations or negotiations, maintaining a degree of distance might be strategically advantageous to avoid premature conclusions.

What can I say instead of "I'm getting closer to the reason"?

You can use alternatives like "I'm nearing the explanation", "I'm approaching the justification", or "I'm beginning to understand the motive" depending on the context.