minor reason

USAGE SUMMARY

'minor reason' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to a cause or justification that is less significant than others. For example, "The minor reason I stayed late at the office was to finish the report."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

16 human-written examples

ML: It was a minor reason..

The Guardian - Opinion

IF YES: Is it a major reason you support her, or a minor reason?

The Washington Post

Hugo Powell, Interbrew's chief executive, said Beck's 2.5percentt share of the fragmented German market was only a minor reason for Interbrew's purchase.

The New York Times

But when someone says he or she can't come to an important event for what seems to be a minor reason, it "often means secrets are involved.

The New York Times

Gigi Sohn, president of Public Knowledge, a public-interest group focused on intellectual property issues, suggested that the lack of copy protection was just one fairly minor reason why the entertainment industry had not provided its material over digital television.

The New York Times

You may have heard the analogy used of a 'canary in a coal mine.'A minor reason for this law in 1973 was to safeguard the natural beauty and majesty that we've come to treasure as a nation.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

44 human-written examples

"There are a number of minor reasons and one very major one why the jet-setting underground would find Thailand irresistible," Mr. Burdett said in an e-mail.

The New York Times

Seeing a decent, upstanding minister of education leaving the stage for minor reasons could be a turning point in our political culture.

The New York Times

Sanctions are known to be given to people for extremely minor reasons such as being five minutes late for an appointment.

Independent

But no less than a half-dozen times on Monday, Mr. Zambada, said that Mr. Guzmán, his former boss in the Sinaloa drug cartel, had arranged for people to be killed for seemingly minor reasons.

The New York Times

Yet if his mind was not well suited to earning A's at Yale by categorizing information and coming up with the four major and three minor reasons why Rome fell, then it may be that his brain works best in other ways.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "minor reason", ensure the context clearly establishes that it is not the primary or most important factor. Use it to add nuance and completeness to your explanation, rather than as the central argument.

Common error

Avoid presenting a "minor reason" as if it were the main justification. Doing so can weaken your argument and mislead your audience. Clearly differentiate between primary and secondary reasons.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "minor reason" functions as a noun phrase that identifies a cause, motive, or justification for something. The adjective 'minor' modifies the noun 'reason', indicating that it is of lesser importance or significance. Ludwig AI validates the correct and usable form in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

35%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "minor reason" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase that indicates a less important cause or justification. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and usability. It is most commonly found in news, media, and scientific contexts and serves to provide a nuanced explanation by acknowledging contributing factors that are not primary. When incorporating "minor reason" into your writing, ensure you're clearly distinguishing it from the main or primary causes to avoid misrepresentation. Using alternatives like "secondary cause" or "lesser factor" can enhance clarity and precision.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

secondary cause

This alternative replaces 'reason' with 'cause' and uses 'secondary' instead of 'minor' to indicate lesser importance.

lesser factor

This option uses 'factor' instead of 'reason', emphasizing the element's contribution, while 'lesser' indicates its reduced significance.

contributing factor

This choice replaces the noun with the adjective, and includes the word contribute to denote the same general meaning

small factor

It replaces 'reason' with 'factor' and 'minor' with 'small', indicating reduced importance.

secondary consideration

This option substitutes 'reason' with 'consideration', highlighting the aspect of evaluation or thought, and uses 'secondary' to convey reduced importance.

insignificant motive

Here, 'reason' is replaced by 'motive', suggesting the underlying drive or purpose, and 'insignificant' denotes the lack of importance.

trivial justification

This alternative uses 'justification' in place of 'reason', emphasizing the act of defending or explaining, while 'trivial' suggests it's of little worth or importance.

marginal explanation

It replaces 'reason' with 'explanation', focusing on the act of clarifying or making understandable, and 'marginal' suggests it's barely significant or relevant.

peripheral motive

It replaces the noun with another noun that shares the same context and periphery is used instead of minor

slight rationale

It uses 'rationale' instead of 'reason', emphasizing the logical basis or principle, and 'slight' to indicate its limited weight or impact.

FAQs

How to use "minor reason" in a sentence?

You can use "minor reason" to introduce a less significant cause or justification for something. For example, "A "minor reason" for the project's delay was the unexpected equipment malfunction."

What can I say instead of "minor reason"?

You can use alternatives like "secondary cause", "lesser factor", or "small factor" depending on the context.

What's the difference between "minor reason" and "major reason"?

"Minor reason" refers to a less important cause or justification, while "major reason" indicates the primary or most significant cause. The choice between them depends on the relative importance of the factor you're describing.

Is "minor reason" always a negative thing?

Not necessarily. "Minor reason" simply indicates that a particular factor is less significant than others. It's neutral in itself, and whether it's viewed positively or negatively depends on the specific context.