grounds

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'grounds' is correct and usable in written English.
It is a noun that can be used to refer to a particular piece of land, or to a reason or justification for an action or opinion. For example: 'The grounds of the palace were beautifully landscaped with lush green grass and colorful flowers.'.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sport

Opinion

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

An Oxford University spokesperson said: "The university is robustly defending this application on all grounds and Ms Ramey's application has already been refused permission on the papers.

The Guardian

The news came as a surprise to nationalist colleagues, although Mr Mallon is a year older than Mr Hume, who is retiring on health grounds.

The Guardian

Nick Clegg, who has been briefed by the prime minister on the speech, will reject Cameron's pledge to hold a referendum by 2017 on the grounds that it is wrong to commit Britain to such a specific timetable when there is uncertainty over whether negotiations will take place.

The Guardian

"In connection with the completion of the routine springtime training phase for troops that involved their deployment to training grounds in the Rostov, Belgorod and Bryansk regions, among others, the president of Russia gave the command to the defence minister to return the troops taking part in the exercises to their home bases," the Kremlin said.

The Guardian

His production of Ben Jonson's The Devil Is an Ass applied the knife to yards of text, and his West Yorkshire Playhouse production of the children's classic Peter Pan was so dark and grim that one set of parents threatened to sue on the grounds that their child had been traumatised.

The Guardian

Five police officers and a press photographer have been injured after a riot erupted in the grounds of Belfast city hall following a council vote to cut the number of days the Union flag will be flown there.

The Guardian

But I had no reason to think specifically that there were any grounds that the prime minister would want to part company with me".

The Guardian

This meant that talent both behind the camera and in front of the camera were able to learn their craft, which in turn led to shows such as The Cosby Show being made for primetime audiences, which in turn proved to be training grounds for the next generation of talent".

The Guardian

Before you self-prescribe anything, you should know that even doctors are strongly discouraged from doing so by the General Medical Council, on the grounds that an objective person should make a better prescribing decision.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The capital's burgeoning population, upon their decease, were filling up its small churchyards, burial grounds and vaults.

The Guardian

The overall argument in Gatherings was that concentrated graveyard gases caused instant death in man and beast; foul-smelling grounds, constantly releasing more diffused miasma, did not produce sudden death – but they debilitated those living nearby, according to their level of exposure and individual resistance.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "grounds" to refer to a reason or justification, ensure the context clearly establishes what is being supported or defended. For example, "grounds for dismissal" or "on the grounds that."

Common error

Avoid using the singular form "ground" when referring to multiple reasons or justifications. "Grounds" is the plural form and should be used when indicating more than one reason.

Linguistic Context

The word "grounds" functions primarily as a noun. Ludwig AI confirms its use in referring to areas of land or reasons/justifications for something. The plural form is essential when indicating multiple reasons.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Sport

15%

Opinion

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Science

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "grounds" functions primarily as a noun, referring either to a physical area or to reasons/justifications. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. With a "Very common" frequency, "grounds" is widely used in various contexts, particularly in News & Media. The plural form is crucial when referring to multiple reasons. The phrase maintains a generally neutral register and serves to provide a foundation or justification, offering alternative expressions like "reasons", "justifications", or "basis". Remember to avoid confusing "grounds" with the singular form "ground" in contexts requiring multiple reasons.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

reasons

Refers to the underlying causes or justifications, similar to providing "grounds" for an action or belief.

justifications

Highlights the act of proving something to be right or reasonable, akin to establishing "grounds".

basis

Emphasizes the foundation or starting point upon which something is based, similar to the fundamental "grounds".

foundation

Focuses on the underlying support or structure, comparable to the essential "grounds" of an argument.

rationale

Highlights the logical or reasoned explanation, similar to the intellectual "grounds".

premises

Focuses on the assumed or accepted facts that form the basis of an argument, relating to the underlying "grounds".

arguments

Refers to the reasoning or set of reasons used to persuade someone, connecting to the convincing "grounds".

land

Denotes a specific area, similar to the sense of "grounds" as property.

estate

Refers to a large property or area of land, echoing the physical aspect of "grounds".

campus

Specifically relates to the grounds of a university or college, providing a concrete example of "grounds".

FAQs

How to use "grounds" in a sentence?

You can use "grounds" to refer to land, as in "the school "grounds"", or to reasons, as in ""grounds" for appeal".

What can I say instead of "on the grounds that"?

Alternatives include "because", "since", or "due to the fact that", depending on the level of formality required.

Which is correct: "ground for" or "grounds for"?

"Grounds for" is correct when referring to multiple reasons or a general basis. "Ground for" is rarely used and often incorrect unless referring to physical land.

What's the difference between "grounds" and "premises"?

"Grounds" typically refers to the land surrounding a building, while "premises" refers to the building and its surrounding area. "Grounds" can also mean reasons, which "premises" does not.