ordinary reason

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "ordinary reason" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a common or typical rationale or justification for a belief or action. Example: "In the debate about climate change, many people rely on ordinary reason to support their views on environmental policies."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

Put another way, there is no regular and ordinary reason for a person to drop a high-explosive mortar round into a mortar tube, short of training for or waging war.

The New York Times

But patients may be steering clear for a far more ordinary reason: if they live in a small town or are only one or two degrees of social separation from physicians or their family members, they may not want to create any awkwardness.

The New York Times

Moreover, it has been taken to show that ordinary reason explanations are not causal explanations, even though the authors themselves rejected this conclusion.

SEP

They noted that this epistemic view is perfectly compatible with the assumption that we can and often do give the actual causes of our actions when we give an ordinary reason explanation.

SEP

In a fairly early phase of the debate over the causal status of reasons for action, Norman Malcolm [1968] and Charles Taylor [1964] defended the thesis that ordinary reason explanations stand in potential rivalry with the explanations of human and animal behavior the neural sciences can be expected to provide.

SEP

I suppose I could wonder why no one told us in advance that Mara wasn't coming to the meeting, but perhaps she and Mike thought that buying a cow is the most ordinary reason in the world.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

They appear to establish the holism, or variability of reasons for belief and of ordinary reasons for action.

SEP

Our use of the new concept, they suggest, means that many people who are just normally miserable for understandable and ordinary reasons are being diagnosed as depressed.

SEP

The particularist picture is one which takes moral reasons to operate in ways that are not noticeably different from the way in which other reasons function more ordinary reasons for action, say, or reasons for belief rather than for action.

SEP

Why? Well if you're in Detroit you're 100x more likely to get somebody who grew up in Flint coming by twice per year for ordinary reasons unrelated to work.

TechCrunch

Many of the contemporary voluntarist and non-voluntarist arguments have been criticised in recent debates, giving rise to the view that, while there are both ordinary reasons to follow the law and strong moral obligations to follow particular laws, there is no general moral obligation to follow the law.

SEP

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "ordinary reason" when you want to emphasize that a reason is commonplace, expected, or not particularly noteworthy. It's effective in contexts where you're contrasting it with something unusual or extraordinary.

Common error

While acceptable, "ordinary reason" might sound too informal in highly academic or professional contexts. Opt for synonyms like "standard rationale" or "typical justification" to maintain a more elevated tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "ordinary reason" functions primarily as a noun phrase, typically acting as the subject or object of a sentence. It identifies a rationale or cause that is commonplace or unremarkable, as confirmed by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

43%

Science

43%

Encyclopedias

14%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "ordinary reason" is a valid phrase used to denote a commonplace or typical justification. Ludwig's analysis indicates that it is grammatically correct and used across various contexts, including news, science, and encyclopedias. While acceptable, be mindful of the context as a more formal phrasing might be required for academic writing. As Ludwig AI confirms, it effectively communicates the lack of exceptionality in a given reason.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

common reason

Replaces "ordinary" with "common", suggesting a frequently encountered or typical reason.

typical reason

Substitutes "ordinary" with "typical", focusing on the representative nature of the reason.

usual reason

Uses "usual" instead of "ordinary", highlighting the expected or customary nature of the reason.

standard reason

Replaces "ordinary" with "standard", emphasizing the reason's conformity to a norm or established practice.

normal reason

Substitutes "ordinary" with "normal", indicating a reason that is not exceptional or unusual.

routine reason

Uses "routine" instead of "ordinary", suggesting the reason is part of a regular or established pattern.

everyday explanation

Replaces both "ordinary" and "reason" to offer a more descriptive phrase referring to common explanations.

mundane explanation

Uses "mundane" instead of "ordinary", suggesting the reason is commonplace and unexciting.

garden-variety justification

A more figurative way of saying ordinary reason, emphasizing its lack of uniqueness.

simplistic justification

Implies the reason is basic and perhaps lacking in nuance or complexity.

FAQs

How can I use "ordinary reason" in a sentence?

You can use "ordinary reason" to describe a commonplace justification. For example, "There's no "common reason" to suspect foul play; it was just an accident."

What are some alternatives to "ordinary reason"?

Alternatives include "common reason", "typical reason", or "usual reason", depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is "ordinary reason" suitable for formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "ordinary reason" may sound slightly informal in some formal contexts. Consider using a more sophisticated term such as "standard rationale" or "typical justification".

What is the difference between "ordinary reason" and "simplistic justification"?

"Ordinary reason" simply denotes a common or typical rationale, while "simplistic justification" implies the reason is overly basic and potentially inadequate. Use the latter when you want to critique the depth or complexity of the reasoning.