predominant reason for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "predominant reason for" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the main cause or factor behind a particular situation or outcome. Example: "The predominant reason for the project's success was the team's dedication and hard work."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Kidd is the predominant reason for the turnaround.

The New York Times - Sports

It would seem then that this physiological adaptation, fostered by our behaviour, is a predominant reason for the poor concentration so many people report.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The expression of MHC antigens presenting intracellularly synthetised peptides on the cell surface is the predominant reason for immunologic detection and rejection of allogeneic cell and tissue transplants.

Methods

"Decreased sexual pleasure is typically the predominant reason for not using them," said Stephen Ward, a program officer for the Gates Foundation.

The New York Times

The general feeling was that the predominant reason for rejecting work was that, even when publishers thought it excellent, it was deemed to be "too Scottish" and therefore less likely to have an audience.

The Guardian - Books

Oil was never the "predominant reason" for the American intervention, Mr. Cretz said, but his comments — which came at a moment when the fighters who chased out Colonel Qaddafi have not yet caught him or fully vanquished his forces — underlined the American eagerness for a cut of any potential profits.

The New York Times

The predominant reason for being killed or injured when travelling with school transportation was running in front of the bus or behind the bus when crossing the street.

European Transport Research Review

A predominant reason for this is that consumers have slowly but consistently shifted their attention away from traditional pay television options and instead gone the way of OTT (over-the-top) digital video platforms such as Netflix and Amazon.

Forbes

The predominant reason for being killed or injured when travelling on school transportation was when children were outside the bus (74%), either when passing the bus to cross the street, running in front of the bus (21%) or behind the bus (30%).

European Transport Research Review

The predominant reason for introducing macrostates is the large number of sub-systems that constitute the typical system of interest, such as a volume of gas; such numbers make it impossible in practice to make a determination of the actual state of the system.

SEP

What is in the foods we eat, the way our foods are prepared by food manufacturers and restaurants is the predominant reason for disease and obesity.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use alternatives like "main cause of" or "primary factor in" to prevent repetition and add variety to your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "predominant reason for" when referring to a minor or secondary factor. It should be reserved for the most influential or significant cause. Using it loosely weakens the impact of your statement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "predominant reason for" functions as a noun phrase modifier, highlighting the most significant cause or motive behind a particular event or situation. Ludwig AI indicates that this phrase is grammatically correct and widely used. It typically introduces an explanation or justification.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

59%

News & Media

31%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "predominant reason for" is a grammatically sound and widely used expression for emphasizing the main cause or justification behind something. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and frequent usage across various domains, particularly in scientific and news-related contexts. While it can be used in a neutral register, it tends to appear more often in formal writing. Remember to reserve this phrase for the most significant factor and avoid using it for secondary or minor reasons. Alternatives like "main cause of" and "chief cause of" offer similar meanings and can add variety to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

chief cause of

Replaces "reason" with "cause" and "predominant" with "chief", emphasizing the primary instigator.

main cause of

Substitutes "predominant reason" with the more concise "main cause", focusing on the principal factor.

primary factor in

Replaces "reason" with "factor" and "predominant" with "primary", highlighting the key element.

leading factor in

Similar to "primary factor", but uses "leading" to indicate influence or direction.

major contributor to

Shifts the focus to contribution rather than strict causality.

principal basis for

Uses "basis" to refer to the foundation or rationale, instead of "reason".

key determinant of

Emphasizes the role of determination, suggesting a strong influence on the outcome.

central justification for

Focuses on the aspect of providing a rationale or defense.

foremost rationale for

Highlights the most important justification or explanation.

underlying motive for

Replaces "reason" with "motive", suggesting a deeper, often less obvious cause.

FAQs

What does "predominant reason for" mean?

The phrase "predominant reason for" signifies the main or most significant cause or justification for a particular situation, event, or decision. It indicates that while other reasons may exist, this one is the most important.

How can I use "predominant reason for" in a sentence?

You can use "predominant reason for" to highlight the key factor influencing an outcome. For example: "The "main cause of" project delay was lack of resources."

What are some alternatives to "predominant reason for"?

Alternatives include "chief cause of", "main cause of", "primary factor in", or "leading factor in". The choice depends on the specific context and the nuance you wish to convey.

Is there a difference between "predominant reason for" and "primary reason for"?

While similar, "predominant reason for" suggests that the reason is not only primary but also outweighs other contributing factors in importance. "Primary reason for" simply indicates the main reason without necessarily implying it's overwhelmingly dominant.