preliminary reason

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "preliminary reason" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing an initial justification or rationale for a decision or action before further details are provided. Example: "The preliminary reason for the project's delay was a lack of resources, but further investigation revealed additional factors."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

The preliminary reason for all these headaches?

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Whatever the reason, preliminary estimates from Nielsen suggest that "Sunday Night Football" on NBC posted its lowest rating in nearly three years.

The New York Times

The number of comparisons conducted in the present study was relatively small, however, the present findings should be treated as preliminary for this reason.

Plosone

For this reason, preliminary predictions outside this range of sizes are not considered during the generation of the final prediction.

Bioinformatics

This result however, should be considered preliminary for two reasons.

Plosone

From a clinical point of view it was preliminary for several reasons.

British Medical Journal

We consider the above logical conjectures to be somewhat preliminary for two reasons.

BMC Genomics

Preliminary diagnoses and reasons for encounter will be classified using the International Classification of Primary Care (ICPC-2) [ 34].

BMC Pediatrics

Although the evidence for positive selection on flowering genes obtained by contrasting polymorphism and divergence (Table 2) is suggestive and also consistent with evidence obtained on a different time scale using the (D, Z) test, estimates of α should be viewed as preliminary for two reasons.

BMC Evolutionary Biology

In 1991, the F.E.C. issued a preliminary finding: there was "reason to believe" that Bush-Quayle '88 and NSPAC had violated the law, because the two groups "were not independent" of each other.

The New Yorker

For this reason, a preliminary incident classification scheme would be more convenient in order to select the more appropriate prediction model.

European Transport Research Review

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "preliminary reason", ensure that you clarify that this is not the final or definitive explanation, and that further investigation may be needed.

Common error

Avoid presenting a "preliminary reason" as the complete or only explanation. Indicate that it's subject to further review or revision.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "preliminary reason" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "preliminary" modifies the noun "reason". It serves to qualify the type of reason being presented, indicating that it is an initial or tentative explanation. Ludwig AI confirms this usage.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

25%

Formal & Business

25%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "preliminary reason" is a grammatically sound and usable expression that indicates an initial or tentative explanation for something. According to Ludwig AI, it is suitable for discussing early justifications or rationales before providing further details. Though "preliminary reason" has infrequent use, it is found in contexts across News & Media and Science. Remember to clarify in your writing that the "preliminary reason" isn't final. Alternatives like "initial cause" or "early rationale" can offer subtle shifts in emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

early rationale

Similar to preliminary reason but puts more emphasis on the justification behind something.

preliminary basis

Stresses the foundational aspect is still under development.

original motive

Highlights the initial motivation behind an action or decision.

initial cause

Focuses on the starting point of causation, rather than the reason itself being preliminary.

tentative explanation

Emphasizes the provisional nature of the explanation, rather than the reasoning.

early justification

Highlights the temporal aspect of the justification being in the early stages.

initial hypothesis

Suggests a proposed explanation made on the basis of limited evidence as a starting point for further investigation.

provisional grounds

Implies the basis for something is not yet fully established or confirmed.

working theory

Indicates a theory that is being used as a guide but is subject to change.

first approximation

Implies that the reason is an initial attempt that will be refined.

FAQs

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

You can use "preliminary reason" to indicate an initial explanation before a more thorough investigation. For example: "The "preliminary reason" for the project delay was lack of funding."

What's a good alternative to "preliminary reason"?

Alternatives include "initial cause", "tentative explanation", or "early rationale", depending on the specific context.

Is "preliminary reason" formal or informal?

"Preliminary reason" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts, though more formal situations might benefit from alternatives like "initial basis" or "provisional grounds".

What does "preliminary reason" imply about the explanation?

It implies that the explanation is not yet fully developed or confirmed and may change as more information becomes available. Consider using terms like "working theory" if this aspect needs emphasis.