key motive

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "key motive" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to the primary reason or driving force behind an action or decision. Example: "The key motive behind the company's decision to expand was to increase market share and profitability."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

30 human-written examples

The key motive was perverse, to be getting up to something".

The New York Times

The loss of the country's Muslim identity in the face of growing Christianity is also a key motive among Islamists.

The Guardian

ENI's management cited a desire to take advantage of the renewed impetus for energy liberalisation across Europe as a key motive for the bid.

The Economist

But Ms. Klekowski von Koppenfels found only a small number — 4.5 percent — who cited political or cultural dissatisfaction as their key motive for leaving home.

The New York Times

Pinker argues that trade, which turns potential enemies into paying customers, eliminates one key motive for violence, and that democracy, which relies on the idea that even the bitterest of opponents can resolve their differences peaceably, reduces another.

The New Yorker

To avoid this, expansion has often been timed to coincide with treaty changes: a key motive for the treaties of Maastricht, Amsterdam and Nice was the knowledge that the east Europeans were waiting in the wings.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

30 human-written examples

It also confirmed one of the key motives of the abductions.

The Guardian

This study aims to identify key motives and constraints in the consideration of carpooling policy with the help of stated preference questionnaire survey that was conducted in Lahore City.

Journal of Modern Transportation

Findings show that key motives to participate in such multi-stakeholder value co-creation are reputation enhancement, experimentation, and relationship building.

Journal of Business Research

Kuada, John, and Robert E. Hinson Study seeks to examine key motives underlying CSR practices of foreign and local firms operating in Ghana and the societal as well as business outcomes of these practices.

International Journal of Corporate Social Responsibility

Environmental economists are increasingly interested in better understanding how people cognitively organise their beliefs and attitudes towards environmental change in order to identify key motives and barriers that stimulate or prevent action.

Science of The Total Environment

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "key motive", ensure that it accurately represents the single most important reason behind an action or decision. Avoid using it when multiple motives are equally significant.

Common error

Avoid labeling a reason as the "key motive" if it's merely one of several contributing factors. Ensure it genuinely outweighs other considerations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "key motive" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject complement or object of a sentence. Ludwig examples show it identifying the most important underlying cause or inspiration for an action or decision.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

32%

News & Media

41%

Wiki

6%

Less common in

Formal & Business

9%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "key motive" is a grammatically correct and commonly used noun phrase that identifies the single most important reason or driving force behind an action or decision. Ludwig examples show that it's most often used in news and scientific contexts and has a neutral to formal tone. While other motivations may exist "key motive" singles out the one that is the most influential. Ludwig AI confirms the correctness of this phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

primary reason

Emphasizes the reason as being the most important.

main motivation

Highlights the motivational aspect as central.

principal cause

Focuses on the causal factor as the main one.

central impetus

Highlights the driving force as being central.

core driver

Emphasizes the driving force as being at the core.

chief consideration

Highlights the importance of the reason.

overriding factor

Emphasizes the factor that takes precedence.

dominant incentive

Focuses on the incentive as being the most influential.

prime mover

Highlights the agent that initiates action as primary.

root motivation

Focuses on the fundamental source of motivation.

FAQs

How can I use "key motive" in a sentence?

You can use "key motive" to describe the primary reason or driving force behind an action or decision. For example, "The "key motive" for the project was to reduce costs".

What are some alternatives to "key motive"?

Alternatives to "key motive" include "primary reason", "main motivation", or "principal cause", depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "a key motive" or should it be "the key motive"?

Both "a key motive" and "the key motive" can be correct, depending on the context. "A key motive" implies there are other motives, but this one is important. "The key motive" suggests it is the single most important motive.

What's the difference between "key motive" and "main reason"?

While similar, "key motive" often implies a deeper, more intrinsic driver, whereas "main reason" can be a more surface-level explanation. The best choice depends on the nuance you want to convey.