explain your reasoning

USAGE SUMMARY

"explain your reasoning" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to ask someone to provide the logical basis for their opinion or decision. For example, "Can you explain your reasoning for choosing to invest in stocks instead of bonds?".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

34 human-written examples

Can you explain your reasoning?

The New York Times

Explain your reasoning and/or what other information you would need to make this determination.

University of California, Berkeley

Write a brief essay in which you evaluate the utility of each technology to students, and explain your reasoning.

The New York Times

Explain your reasoning in a way they'll understand (thus avoiding the hideous 'us and them' male/female rhetoric which underpins a lot of feminist prose).

Independent

If they find this upsetting or shocking, explain your reasoning and tell them that they need to talk to your mother about why this is important to her.

The New York Times - Magazine

The Lab Exercises are not graded for correctness, but on completion and your ability to explain your reasoning to whoever is checking your lab off.

Cornell University

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

26 human-written examples

If you have a strong opinion about the iPhone's future market share and nothing else, you can just create a model about that component, along with comments explaining your reasoning.

TechCrunch

The concept is simple: You download the app, tap who you are voting for (the options are Hillary or Donald or decline to answer), what state you are in and record a short video explaining your reasoning.

TechCrunch

The petition will be submitted to a judge, so make sure it explains your reasoning completely and correctly.

WikiHow

Talking it through and explaining your reasoning with a friend or family member can really boost your confidence with this idea.

WikiHow

If, after extensive review, you feel there is no way this page could be improved; nominate the page for deletion by writing {{nfd|acc}} on the article and then leaving a note on the discussion page explaining your reasoning and the fact that other options to keep the article have been explored and exhausted.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When asking someone to "explain your reasoning", be specific about what decision or conclusion you are referring to, providing context for a more focused response.

Common error

Avoid assuming the audience understands the context or background of your reasoning. Always provide sufficient information to ensure clarity and comprehension.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "explain your reasoning" functions as an imperative, prompting someone to provide a detailed account of their thought process or the logical basis for a decision, action, or belief. It aims to elicit clarity and understanding.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

32%

Academia

24%

Wiki

26%

Less common in

Science

8%

Forbes

4%

Huffington Post

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "explain your reasoning" is a versatile phrase used to solicit a detailed justification or thought process behind a decision or belief. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is considered grammatically correct and suitable for various contexts, including news, academic discussions, and general communication. While it maintains a neutral tone, it is important to consider the audience and situation when selecting the most appropriate wording. For more formal settings, alternatives like "elucidate your rationale" or "provide your justification" may be preferred. Understanding the context and clearly articulating your reasoning are key to effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

give the reasons for your decision

Directly requests the causes or motives behind a specific choice.

provide your justification

Focuses on the act of offering reasons or evidence to support a claim or action.

justify your conclusion

Focuses on providing a justification for a conclusion that has already been made.

clarify your logic

Highlights the need to make the logical steps in one's reasoning more understandable.

elucidate your rationale

Emphasizes clarifying the underlying principles behind a decision or belief.

state the grounds for your belief

Asks for the fundamental reasons why someone holds a particular belief.

detail your thought process

Asks for a comprehensive account of how someone arrived at a particular conclusion.

present the basis for your opinion

Emphasizes the foundation or grounds upon which an opinion is formed.

walk me through your analysis

Implies a step-by-step explanation of how an analysis was conducted and its results.

share the thinking behind your action

Focuses on revealing the mental process that led to a particular action.

FAQs

How can I ask someone to elaborate on their thought process?

You can ask them to "explain your reasoning", or use phrases like "walk me through your analysis", or "detail your thought process".

What's a formal way to request a justification?

In a formal setting, you might ask someone to "provide your justification", "elucidate your rationale", or "state the grounds for your belief".

Is it appropriate to use "explain your reasoning" in academic writing?

Yes, "explain your reasoning" is appropriate in academic writing when you need to clearly understand the rationale behind a claim, method, or result. Using "justify your conclusion" is also a valid alternative.

Can I use "explain your reasoning" in an email to my boss?

Yes, using "explain your reasoning" in an email is perfectly acceptable as long as the tone remains respectful and professional. However, to be more formal, you may consider using "provide your justification".