plausible grounds

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "plausible grounds" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the justification or reasoning behind a belief, action, or decision that seems reasonable or credible. Example: "The committee found plausible grounds to support the proposed changes in policy."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

I see no plausible grounds for disputing the order's lawfulness.

The Washington Post

Yet he added that Theresa May was "unlikely to have made that decision without substantial and plausible grounds".

Independent

Given the jingoism coming from American quarters, Russia enjoys, as is its wont, plausible grounds for appealing to the simple logic of tit for tat.

The Guardian - Opinion

Andrew Tyrie, the committee's chair and Conservative MP for Chichester, said: "No doubt we will want to examine the workability of the proposals on child benefit – a number of experts have challenged the scheme on a number of plausible grounds.

The Guardian

"Apparently, after an examination by the Federal Intelligence Service and the Federal Office for Security in Information Technology, the government found sufficient plausible grounds to confront the U.S. government," Der Spiegel wrote.

The New York Times

In the 1930's, the National Labor Relations Board prohibited companies from participating in the campaigns leading up to these elections among the workers, on the plausible grounds that employer campaigns intimidated employees and that the relevant voting community was the employees not the employer.

Columbia University

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

But it also made it seem more plausible, grounding it in a sense of reality.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

"There is no plausible ground for arguing they're hopelessly deadlocked," he said.

The New York Times

The most plausible ground is the conscious and rational one that race is irrelevant to the badness of someone's suffering, so these differential feelings, however natural, are a poor guide to how we should treat people.

The New York Times - Books

Some philosophers have argued that certain capacities fit the bill; others argue that there is no quality possessed by all humans that could be a plausible ground for a moral obligation of equal respect.

SEP

The same framework to the draft policy memo that "establishing a strategy for reforming the mortgage finance system". The only plausible ground for keeping this material is that most of the documents do not discuss the NWS, and the only one that does offers no motivational analysis.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "plausible grounds", ensure that the grounds you are referring to are not only believable but also supported by some evidence, even if preliminary.

Common error

Avoid presenting "plausible grounds" as definitive proof. The phrase suggests a reasonable basis, but not necessarily a conclusive one. Ensure you appropriately qualify the strength of the evidence.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "plausible grounds" functions as a noun phrase, typically used to indicate the existence of a believable or reasonable basis for a claim, argument, or action. Ludwig examples show it is often used in legal, political, and ethical contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Academia

30%

Science

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "plausible grounds" is a noun phrase indicating a reasonable and believable justification for a claim or action. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is grammatically correct and usable in written English. While not extremely common, it's consistently used across various formal contexts such as news, academia, and science. When using this phrase, ensure that the grounds are not only believable but also supported by some evidence. Some alternatives include "reasonable basis", "justifiable reasons", and "credible justification". The frequency is classified as uncommon given the number of examples.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

reasonable basis

Focuses on the logical and rational foundation for something.

justifiable reasons

Emphasizes the legitimacy and defensibility of the reasons.

credible justification

Highlights the believability and support for a particular action or decision.

sound rationale

Suggests a well-reasoned and solid explanation.

valid justification

Emphasizes the legal or formal correctness of the grounds.

tenable explanation

Highlights that explanation can be defended successfully against objections.

supportable cause

Underlines the ability of providing elements that demonstrate the veracity of something.

arguable defense

Suggests that there's a valid claim to protect against attack.

defensible excuse

Shows reason to be exempted from blame or punishment.

colorable pretense

This alternative refers to a claim or action that appears legitimate on the surface but may not be so upon closer examination.

FAQs

How can I use "plausible grounds" in a sentence?

You can use "plausible grounds" to indicate that there's a reasonable basis for a belief, action, or decision. For example, "The investigation revealed "plausible grounds" for suspecting foul play".

What are some alternatives to "plausible grounds"?

Some alternatives include "reasonable basis", "justifiable reasons", and "credible justification". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it better to say "plausible grounds" or "possible grounds"?

"Plausible grounds" suggests a higher degree of believability and support than "possible grounds". "Possible grounds" simply indicates that something is not impossible, whereas "plausible grounds" suggests that it is reasonably likely.

Can "plausible grounds" be used in formal writing?

Yes, "plausible grounds" is appropriate for formal writing, as it's a clear and professional way to indicate a reasonable basis for something. It appears in various academic and news contexts.