likely explanations for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "likely explanations for" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing possible reasons or interpretations for a particular situation or phenomenon. Example: "The researchers proposed several likely explanations for the observed increase in temperature over the past decade."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Analysts said there were two likely explanations for the bank's sudden decision to seek help.

The New York Times

But economists agree that there are two likely explanations for this week's sell-off.

The Economist

The study's authors and other aid organizations said the focus of aid dollars on the east and neglect of the region by government were the most likely explanations for the changes.

The New York Times

Far from being an exemplar for staff wellbeing, the NHS illuminated the consequences and impacts of ethnic inequalities in wellbeing across society, as well as the likely explanations for these differences.

The Guardian

"One of the most likely explanations for the significant differences between the two cities is the degree to which employment in manufacturing declined, as manufacturing tends to have a higher proportion of intermediate level jobs," the report explains.

The Guardian - Money

What are likely explanations for the observed difference in correlation direction?

Sports Medicine - Open

T T annihilation in the PVK matrix or trapped charge-triplet annihilation are more likely explanations for the decrease.

Organic Electronics

The prolongation of the RM and the pressure.time product were likely explanations for the global benefit of the prolonged RM.

Annals of Intensive Care

Likely explanations for the divergent findings include the mechanism of injury—stretch versus endotoxin induced and the cell types studied epithelium versus endothelium and fibroblasts.

Intensive Care Medicine Experimental

One of the likely explanations for this discrepancy could be due to a mismatch of radioactivity level calibration between the gamma counter and the scanner.

EJNMMI Research

Differences in human capital characteristics such as education, work experience and Swedish language proficiency but also discrimination are likely explanations for this gap.

IZA Journal of Migration

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When presenting multiple "likely explanations for" a phenomenon, order them from most to least probable based on available evidence to guide the reader's understanding.

Common error

Avoid presenting "likely explanations for" as definitive causes without sufficient evidence. Use qualifiers like "may be", "could be", or "potentially" to maintain accuracy and avoid misleading the reader.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "likely explanations for" functions as a noun phrase modifier, introducing potential reasons or causes for a particular phenomenon. Ludwig examples demonstrate its use in academic, scientific, and news contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

52%

News & Media

40%

Wiki

4%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "likely explanations for" is a versatile phrase used to introduce potential reasons or causes. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage across diverse contexts, particularly in science and news media. When using this phrase, consider the strength of the evidence supporting each explanation and avoid overstating likelihood without sufficient justification. Alternatives include "possible reasons for" and "potential causes of". It's a handy phrase for presenting hypotheses in a clear and organized manner.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

possible reasons for

Replaces "likely" with "possible", indicating a slightly lower degree of certainty.

potential causes of

Substitutes "explanations" with "causes", focusing on the origin of a phenomenon.

plausible accounts for

Uses "plausible" to suggest believability and "accounts" to refer to explanations.

probable justifications for

Replaces "explanations" with "justifications", implying a rationale or defense.

conceivable rationales behind

Uses "conceivable" to suggest possibility and "rationales" for underlying logic.

credible reasons for

Emphasizes the believability of the reasons provided.

tenable grounds for

Suggests that the reasons are defensible or sustainable.

valid explanations for

Implies that the explanations are well-founded and logical.

apparent reasons for

Focuses on the surface-level or easily noticeable reasons.

ostensible causes of

Highlights reasons that appear to be true but might not be the actual causes.

FAQs

How can I use "likely explanations for" in a sentence?

Use "likely explanations for" to introduce possible reasons or causes for a phenomenon. For example, "The most "likely explanations for" the decline in sales include increased competition and changing consumer preferences."

What are some alternatives to "likely explanations for"?

You can use alternatives such as "possible reasons for", "potential causes of", or "plausible accounts for" depending on the specific context and the degree of certainty you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "the likely explanation of" instead of "likely explanations for"?

While grammatically correct, "the likely explanation of" is typically used when referring to a single explanation. Use ""likely explanations for"" when discussing multiple possible reasons or causes.

What's the difference between "likely explanations for" and "possible explanations for"?

"Likely explanations for" suggests that the reasons are probable based on current evidence, while "possible explanations for" simply indicates that the reasons are conceivable, without necessarily implying a high degree of probability.