evident motive

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "evident motive" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing a clear or obvious reason behind someone's actions, often in contexts like crime or decision-making. Example: "The detective noted the evident motive behind the suspect's actions, which pointed to a personal vendetta."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

There was no sign of forced entry, nothing stolen and no evident motive, she said.

The New York Times

The United States has had virtually nothing to do with them, and they have no evident motive for these assaults -- save that Iraq had extensive ties with the Baluch, using them as spies and saboteurs in its earlier conflict with Iran's Shiite regime.

The New York Times

The case had all the right ingredients for headlines in both countries — execution-style shootings, the absence of an evident motive and the miraculous discovery eight hours after the mysterious attack of a four-year-old girl sheltering under the bodies.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

No motive was evident.

The New York Times

Mr. Pate said an ideological motive was evident in only about one-third of the cases.

The New York Times

In women with relatively stable hormone concentrations (due to using hormonal contraceptives), no significant changes in the form of motive enactment were evident.

Physiology & Behavior

This motive is also evident in 23b and 22b where the binding of these analogues induce slight changes in the protein structure resulting in Ser117 reorientation as to form a strong hydrogen bond connecting the two monomers at a distance of 2.6 Å.

Plosone

Leaks are a way of life in Washington circles; their purpose and motive are self-evident and self-serving.

Huffington Post

Their contempt for everyone else's motives and opinions is evident.

The Guardian - Opinion

No motive was apparent.

The New York Times

A learned, independent man, Davis ended his career as clerk of the Supreme Court and died in 2000 still convinced that Hiss, given his evident good character and achievements, had no motive to spy for the Soviets and lie about it.

The New York Times - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider using more specific language than "evident motive" when possible, such as "financial incentive" or "political agenda", to add clarity and precision to your writing.

Common error

A common mistake is to use "evident motive" when the reason is only a hypothesis. Reserve this phrase for situations where the justification is unmistakably clear to the audience.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "evident motive" functions as a noun phrase, where "evident" modifies the noun "motive". It describes a reason or intention that is easily perceived or understood. The Ludwig examples show it used in contexts such as crime investigations and assessing intentions.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Encyclopedias

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "evident motive" is a grammatically correct noun phrase used to describe a reason or intention that is easily perceived. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English. While not particularly frequent, it appears most commonly in news and media contexts, with occasional use in science and encyclopedic sources. Its function is to clearly identify the obvious reason behind an action. When using "evident motive", ensure the reason is genuinely clear and consider using more specific language when possible. Alternatives include "obvious reason" and "clear intention". Overall, the phrase is suitable for neutral to formal contexts where clarity of motivation is key.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

obvious reason

Replaces "evident" with "obvious", emphasizing the clarity and easiness to perceive the reason.

apparent cause

Substitutes "motive" with "cause", focusing on the reason behind an action or event.

clear intention

Replaces "motive" with "intention", highlighting the purpose or aim behind an action.

plain motivation

Uses "plain" instead of "evident", suggesting a straightforward and uncomplicated reason.

unmistakable impetus

Replaces both words with synonyms, increasing formality and intensity. Impetus indicates a driving force.

discernible rationale

Substitutes "evident" with "discernible" and "motive" with "rationale", increasing formality.

manifest purpose

Offers a more formal alternative, with "manifest" suggesting something that is clearly revealed.

patent motivation

Uses "patent" instead of "evident", implying the motivation is easily recognizable or obvious.

demonstrable cause

Focuses on the ability to show or prove the cause, rather than just its visibility.

unconcealed incentive

Suggests that the reason or driving force is not hidden or kept secret.

FAQs

How can I use "evident motive" in a sentence?

You can use "evident motive" to describe a reason or intention that is easily seen or understood. For example, "The detective noted the "evident motive" behind the suspect's actions, which pointed to a personal vendetta."

What's a good alternative to using "evident motive"?

Alternatives include "obvious reason", "clear intention", or "apparent cause", depending on the context and nuance you want to convey.

Is it more appropriate to say "evident motive" or "clear motive"?

Both "evident motive" and "clear motive" are grammatically correct. "Evident" suggests that the motive is easily perceived, while "clear" suggests it's easily understood. The choice depends on the specific emphasis you want to give.

When is it inappropriate to use the term "evident motive"?

It's inappropriate when the motive is not actually clear or obvious, but rather speculative or based on assumptions. In such cases, using terms like "suspected motive" or "possible motive" would be more accurate.