indication on why

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "indication on why" is not correct in standard written English.
It is typically used when seeking clarification or reasoning behind a certain action or decision, but the preposition "on" is not appropriate in this context. Example: "The report provided no clear indication of why the project was delayed."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

The sequence analysis of the three BAC clones gives some indication on why the Pt genome may be larger than the Pgt genome.

BMC Genomics

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Which is one indication of why he's such a good journalist.

The New York Times

However, John Park's huge online following is one indication of why the worst performer of the week gets another shot.

Huffington Post

(And that gives you one more indication of why it was so important for Apple to own its own music streaming company and have its own home-team talent working on how to use it).

TechCrunch

For four months, the case remained under seal, and the court documents unsealed on Friday contained little elaboration on the crimes or any indication of why the case was brought in New York.

The New York Times

Accompanying Mr. Bloomberg on his way to City Hall one morning last week provided a good indication of why he feels this way.

The New York Times

Tony Aiello, a reporter from CBS News, highlighted Mr. Kelly's comment on Twitter and gave an indication of why the police chief in New York would know details of the continuing investigation in Colorado.

The New York Times

There was no indication on Wednesday why Mr. Todashev — who, like the Tsarnaevs, was an ethnic Chechen — would have implicated himself and Mr. Tsarnaev in the murders.

The New York Times

But the French foreign minister, Jean-Marc Ayrault, said on Friday that there was "absolutely no indication" of why the flight came down.

The Guardian

This table gives an indication of why the significant effect of these variables detected on univariate analysis was not found in the multivariate analysis once clinical stage had been added into the model.

British Journal of Cancer

It is also an indication of why puppeteers have to begin their training in childhood.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using "indication on why" in formal writing. Opt for "indication of why", "reason for", or a similar alternative for clearer and more grammatically sound communication.

Common error

A common mistake is using "on" instead of "of" after "indication" when referring to a reason. Always use "indication of why" to maintain grammatical correctness. For example, it's better to say "There was no indication of why he left" than "There was no indication on why he left".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "indication on why" functions as a nominal phrase aiming to introduce a reason or explanation. While attempting to connect an observation or sign to its underlying cause, it is often considered grammatically incorrect. Ludwig AI highlights this discrepancy, suggesting more appropriate alternatives.

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, while the phrase "indication on why" might appear in various texts, Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "indication of why", or even better, consider using alternatives like "reason for" or "explanation for" for improved clarity and grammatical accuracy. Its usage is relatively rare, appearing mostly in news and science contexts. To maintain a professional and polished tone, especially in formal writing, avoiding "indication on why" is highly recommended.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

reason for

This alternative directly replaces "indication" with a more common term for cause or justification.

explanation for

This alternative focuses on providing a clear account or justification for something.

grounds for

This suggests a basis or foundation upon which a decision or belief is formed.

justification for

This emphasizes the act of showing something to be right or reasonable.

basis for

This refers to the underlying support or foundation for something.

evidence for

This highlights the factual support for a claim or belief.

clue to

This suggests a hint or piece of information that helps reveal something.

hint about

This implies a subtle suggestion or indication.

sign of

This indicates a symptom or signal that something exists or is happening.

pointer toward

This suggests a direction or path to understanding something.

FAQs

What is the correct way to say "indication on why"?

The correct phrase is "indication of why". Using "on" is grammatically incorrect in this context. For example, instead of "The data gives an indication on why sales declined", use "The data gives an indication of why sales declined".

What can I say instead of "indication on why"?

You can use alternatives like "reason for", "explanation for", or "clue to" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "indication on why" or "indication of why"?

"Indication of why" is the correct and grammatically preferred phrase. "Indication on why" is considered non-standard.

Is "indication on why" ever acceptable?

While you might encounter "indication on why" in informal contexts, it's best to avoid it in formal or professional writing. Stick to "indication of why" or other suitable alternatives for clarity and correctness.