inadequate reason

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "inadequate reason" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a justification or explanation that is insufficient or lacking in validity. Example: "The committee dismissed the proposal due to what they deemed an inadequate reason for the funding request."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

This strikes me as a wholly inadequate reason for not owning up to one's mistakes, so I apologize on behalf of The Observer and hope against hope that it won't happen again.

The Guardian

But the burden of paying $8m a year in projected running costs seems an inadequate reason for Scott Walker, the governor-elect of Wisconsin, to forgo the $810m that the Department of Transportation is offering to cover the cost of building a line from Milwaukee to Madison.

The Economist

The majority noted that the prisoners are not represented by lawyers and have limited ability to present evidence on their behalf, and that there is no mechanism for their release by a federal court reviewing the decision if the court feels there is inadequate reason to hold them.

The Washington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

He lost his appeal to the high court but won in the court of appeal this week, with the judges criticising the GMC panel for giving inadequate reasons for its findings.

The Guardian

While in a few cases judges closely followed First Amendment standards before closing public access (or refusing to do so), in many other cases sealing orders were approved without any public justification, or for inadequate reasons.

The Washington Post

However, even if all three of these assumptions can be dismissed as bad, or at least inadequate, reasons for supposing that transworld identity requires criteria of transworld identity (and hence for supposing that there is a problem of transworld identity), it does not follow that there are no good reasons for this supposition.

SEP

Mr. Dettelbach described as inadequate the reason provided by the State Department so far: that the managers thought they had addressed the problem by firing or reprimanding the employees who opened the files.

The New York Times

It may look daring, but in the circumstances seems inadequate.One reason for the Bank of England's haste is that the British economy, with its housing bust and exposure to financial services, is falling fast.

The Economist

But I heard repeated reminders that even 2 degrees is inadequate for reasons both powerful and heartbreaking.

Huffington Post

If this condition is accepted, then any moral theory that would require agents to engage in abstruse or difficult reasoning may be inadequate for that reason.

SEP

The habeas writ remains available to federal prisoners where the motion provided under § 2255 is for some reason inadequate.

Cornell University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "inadequate reason", ensure that you clearly articulate why the reason is insufficient. Providing specific examples or counterarguments strengthens your point.

Common error

Avoid simply stating that something is an "inadequate reason" without providing further context. Failing to explain the inadequacy weakens your argument and leaves room for misinterpretation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "inadequate reason" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "inadequate" modifies the noun "reason". It typically serves to describe a justification that is insufficient, unacceptable, or unconvincing. As confirmed by Ludwig, the phrase is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Academia

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "inadequate reason" is a grammatically sound and usable expression that describes a justification lacking in sufficiency or validity. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. While relatively rare, it appears across various contexts like news, science, and academia. When employing this phrase, clarity is key; always elaborate on why the reason is insufficient to strengthen your argument. Alternative expressions, such as "insufficient justification" or "poor excuse", can add nuance depending on the situation. Using this expression without elaborating the rationale is a common pitfall to avoid.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Insufficient justification

Focuses on the lack of sufficient support or validation for a claim.

Unconvincing rationale

Highlights the lack of persuasiveness in the given explanation.

Poor excuse

Emphasizes the weakness and unacceptability of the provided explanation.

Weak justification

Indicates that the support provided is flimsy and easily refuted.

Deficient explanation

Points out the incompleteness or lack of detail in the given explanation.

Invalid premise

Highlights that the underlying assumption or foundation is flawed.

Unsound argument

Emphasizes that the reasoning is flawed or illogical.

Flawed reasoning

Highlights errors or weaknesses in the logical process.

Unsubstantiated claim

Focuses on the lack of evidence or support for the assertion.

Groundless assertion

Emphasizes the lack of any basis or foundation for the statement.

FAQs

How can I use "inadequate reason" in a sentence?

You can use "inadequate reason" to describe a justification that is not sufficient or acceptable. For example, "The committee rejected the proposal because the justification provided was an inadequate reason for the expenditure."

What are some alternatives to saying "inadequate reason"?

Alternatives include "insufficient justification", "unconvincing rationale", or "poor excuse" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "inadequate reason" or "insufficient reason"?

"Inadequate reason" and "insufficient reason" are largely interchangeable. The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey. "Inadequate" suggests a lack of quality, while "insufficient" suggests a lack of quantity or completeness.

What makes a reason qualify as an "inadequate reason"?

A reason is considered an "inadequate reason" when it fails to properly address the issue, lacks sufficient supporting evidence, or is logically flawed.