incidental grounds

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "incidental grounds" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where you want to refer to reasons or justifications that are secondary or not the main focus of a discussion or argument. Example: "The decision was made on incidental grounds, rather than the primary factors that were initially considered."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Japan, by contrast, signed on to the economic dimension of the liberal model on incidental grounds.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

They are the incidental victims, ground down by the fatigue of caring for a loved one, often at the expense of their own health.

Huffington Post

Incidental spray drift and/or ground water contamination potentially represents an under-estimated problem that can detrimentally impact on the biology of trees.

Urban Forestry & Urban Greening

We suggest future research evaluate bobcat foraging strategies in pine savannas to potentially reduce incidental encounters between bobcats and ground-dwelling prey species.

Ecological Processes

The New Yorker, August 26 , 1939P. 9 Incidental Intellignece: The newsboys plying inside the grounds during the Hambletonian wore badges that said "Working Press".

The New Yorker

By A. J. Davis and Russell Maloney The New Yorker, August 26 , 1939P. 9 Incidental Intellignece: The newsboys plying inside the grounds during the Hambletonian wore badges that said "Working Press".

The New Yorker

Today, however, in developed countries that don't use leaded gas, the dominant exposure route to lead air emissions has shifted to incidental ingestion of lead particles that drift to the ground.

Environmental Health Perspectives

They also slapped the ground so quickly with their forefoot that the contact seemed almost incidental.

The New Yorker

The New Yorker, March 9, 1940 P. 13 Incidental Intelligence: There's a drugstore in Concord Mass., that advertises a Battle-ground Streamlined Sundae.

The New Yorker

By L. J. Fulerson and Russell Maloney The New Yorker, March 9, 1940 P. 13 Incidental Intelligence: There's a drugstore in Concord Mass., that advertises a Battle-ground Streamlined Sundae.

The New Yorker

By John Long and Geoffrey T. Hellman The New Yorker, September 22, 1951 P. 24 Incidental Intelligence: There's an old stone mill near Haymarket, Virginia, bearing a sign reading: "Water Ground Corn Meal," that is run by a diesel engine.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "incidental grounds" when you want to downplay the importance of certain reasons or factors in a decision or argument. It indicates that these reasons are not the primary or deciding factors.

Common error

Avoid using "incidental grounds" when you actually mean the main or essential reasons. "Incidental" suggests secondary importance, so using it incorrectly can weaken your argument.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "incidental grounds" functions as an adjectival phrase modifying the noun 'grounds'. It specifies the type of grounds being referred to, indicating that they are secondary or not of primary importance. As Ludwig highlights, this phrase is indeed grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "incidental grounds" is a grammatically correct way to describe reasons or justifications of secondary importance. Ludwig confirms its validity and highlights its usage in contexts such as news and science. While not extremely common, it serves a distinct purpose in downplaying the significance of certain factors. When you aim to emphasize that particular reasons are not the core drivers behind a decision, consider using the phrase "incidental grounds" or semantically close alternatives like "secondary grounds" to effectively communicate the nuanced importance of contributing factors. Use it with care to avoid misrepresenting key information.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

incidental reasons

Substitutes "grounds" with "reasons", offering a direct synonym.

secondary grounds

Uses "secondary" instead of "incidental" to emphasize the lesser importance of the reasons.

additional grounds

Replaces "incidental" with "additional", suggesting supplementary reasons.

circumstantial grounds

Emphasizes that the reasons are based on circumstances rather than direct evidence.

consequential grounds

Employs "consequential", implying that the grounds have some effect, though not primary.

related grounds

Suggests that the reasons are connected but not necessarily central.

miscellaneous grounds

Replaces "incidental" with "miscellaneous", suggesting a variety of less important reasons.

associated grounds

Uses "associated" to indicate that the reasons are linked to the main issue.

certain grounds

Uses "certain", indicating specific but perhaps not crucial reasons.

false grounds

Implies the stated reasons are untrue or misleading, contrasting with genuine incidental reasons.

FAQs

What does "incidental grounds" mean?

It refers to reasons or justifications that are secondary or not the main focus of a discussion or argument. They are not the primary factors but may still contribute to a decision or outcome.

When is it appropriate to use "incidental grounds" in writing?

Use it when you want to acknowledge less important factors without giving them undue emphasis. It's useful for providing a complete picture while highlighting the primary drivers.

What can I say instead of "incidental grounds"?

You can use alternatives like "secondary grounds", "minor justifications", or "additional reasons" depending on the context.

Is "incidental grounds" formal or informal language?

It's generally considered neutral to formal language and can be used in professional or academic writing. It is less common in very casual conversation.