his reason for

USAGE SUMMARY

"his reason for" is correct and can be used in written English.
Example: His reason for wanting to travel was to gain new experiences.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

His reason for not playing contemporary music?

The New Yorker

He discusses his reason for sropping put.

The New Yorker

His reason for fighting was simpler.

The New York Times

What has changed is his reason for recommending them.

The New York Times

The prospect of freedom had become his reason for existence.

The Guardian

This, in part, is his reason for visiting Istanbul.

The New Yorker

This had been his reason for opposing the Peasants Warr.

Encyclopedia Britannica

What was his reason for being so late?

The Guardian - Sport

His reason for avoiding questions of that kind is plain.

The New York Times

This gets at his reason for embarking on the project.

The New York Times - Arts

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

His reason for doing so was simple.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "his reason for", ensure that the pronoun "his" clearly refers to a specific male individual to avoid ambiguity. Otherwise, consider specifying the person's name or using "the reason for".

Common error

A common mistake is using "his reason for" when the reason belongs to someone else. Ensure the possessive pronoun accurately reflects who holds the reason or motive.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "his reason for" functions as a prepositional phrase, typically serving as an adverbial modifier to explain the cause, motive, or justification behind a person's action or decision. It elucidates the 'why' behind an individual's behavior, as demonstrated in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

62%

Academia

18%

Science

12%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

2%

Formal & Business

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "his reason for" is a grammatically correct and very common prepositional phrase used to explain the motivations of a male individual. As Ludwig highlights, this phrase appears most frequently in news and media contexts, but is also utilized in academic and scientific writing. While the phrase is generally straightforward, it's important to ensure the possessive pronoun "his" clearly refers to the correct individual to avoid ambiguity. Alternatives such as "his justification for" or "his motive for" can be used depending on the specific context and desired nuance. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is suitable for use in written English, provided attention is paid to pronoun agreement and clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

his justification for

Focuses on the defense or validation of an action.

his motive for

Highlights the underlying cause that prompts the action.

his basis for

Emphasizes the foundation or grounds on which a decision is made.

his reasoning for

Highlights the thought process leading to a decision.

his explanation for

Focuses on providing clarity or understanding about a particular action.

his rationale for

Stresses the logical or principled basis behind an action.

his cause for

Emphasizes the origin or source of the action.

the reason behind his

Shifts the structure to emphasize the general reason.

why he did it

Simplifies the phrasing to a more direct question.

his purpose in

Highlights the intended goal or objective.

FAQs

How can I use "his reason for" in a sentence?

You can use "his reason for" to explain why a male individual did something. For example, "His reason for leaving was a family secret."

What's a formal alternative to "his reason for"?

A more formal alternative would be "his rationale for" or "his justification for", depending on the context.

What's the difference between "his reason for" and "the reason for his"?

"His reason for" focuses on the individual and their motive, while "the reason for his" shifts the focus to the general reason behind something associated with him. For example, "his reason for leaving" versus "the reason for his departure".

Is it correct to say "the reason for him" instead of "his reason for"?

While "the reason for him" is grammatically acceptable, it's less common and can sound awkward. "His reason for" is generally the preferred phrasing.