rationalise

USAGE SUMMARY

'rationalise' is a correct and usable word in written English.
You can use it to describe the process of making something more composed or logical, especially making something appear to be more logical than it really is. For example: "The company rationalised its structure in order to appear more efficient to potential investors."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Blurting out words like "freedom" and "liberty" has become an almost reflex response for too many "free market" conservatives as they try and rationalise anything that happens in and around the climate change issue.

The Guardian

Hockey won't rationalise his infrastructure spending in Keynesian terms.

The Guardian - Opinion

"He does not openly support jihadism, of course, but does attack its critics and rationalise or wilfully overlook some of its excesses.

The Guardian

If this means that the debt-to-GDP ratio will be higher than 120% in 2020, we devise smart ways to rationalise, re-profile, or restructure the debt – keeping in mind the aim of maximising the effective present value that will be returned to Greece's creditors.

The Guardian - Business

There is little in the way of traumatic childhood or difficult adolescence to rationalise this affinity for a character "desperate to be loved and always reaching for something she couldn't get", in Mulligan's own words.

The Guardian - Film

In these works, Spero seems to have arrived at a stark answer to her own question: it's an artist's task not to rationalise, soften or explain, but to expose and inflict.

The Guardian - Arts

Our government is eager to rationalise the pension system (for example, by limiting early retirement), proceed with partial privatisation of public assets, address the non-performing loans that are clogging the economy's credit circuits, create a fully independent tax commission, and boost entrepreneurship.

The Guardian - Business

It is helped by a comparatively simple corporate structure: its foreign operations are small, and it does hardly any investment banking.Some bankers concede that drafting living wills has helped them rationalise their businesses by weeding out "junk DNA" in the form of defunct subsidiaries tied to forgotten deals.

The Economist

But as snooper in chief, he has been in the unenviable position of having to both rationalise the NSA's choices and plot a new direction forward.

The Economist

Others worry that it will have less leverage than traditional supervisors over banks peddling dodgy products.A bigger concern is Mr Obama's failure to rationalise America's tangle of regulators.

The Economist

As a doctor "I faced a choice of buying shoes or eating .Raúl Castro has taken steps to rationalise health and education services and has raised teachers' salaries.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "rationalise" when you want to convey the act of making something appear logical or justifiable, even if it involves some degree of self-deception or bias.

Common error

Avoid using "rationalise" as a simple synonym for "explain". The word carries a connotation of justifying something that might be questionable or flawed, so choose a more neutral term like "explain" or "describe" if that nuance isn't intended.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "rationalise" is as a verb, indicating an action of making something rational or justifiable. As Ludwig AI explains, it's about making something more composed or logical, even if it's just an appearance.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

30%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

3%

Academia

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "rationalise" is a frequently used verb, primarily found in news and formal business contexts. Ludwig AI confirms its function as making something logical, even if superficially. While grammatically correct, remember that it carries a nuance of justifying something potentially flawed. Consider alternatives like "justify" or "explain" depending on your intended meaning. Understanding the subtle connotation of "rationalise" will enhance the precision and impact of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

justify

Focuses more on providing reasons or explanations to defend an action or decision.

streamline

Implies making something more efficient by removing unnecessary steps or processes.

simplify

Emphasizes making something easier to understand or do, often by reducing complexity.

reorganize

Suggests rearranging elements for better order or function.

restructure

Involves changing the fundamental structure or framework of something.

downsize

Specifically refers to reducing the size or scale of something, often an organization or workforce.

standardize

Focuses on making things uniform or consistent, often to improve efficiency or compatibility.

explain away

Suggests dismissing or minimizing something by providing a seemingly logical explanation.

vindicate

Focuses on clearing someone or something from blame or suspicion.

legitimize

Implies making something acceptable or valid, often through legal or ethical means.

FAQs

How to use "rationalise" in a sentence?

You can use "rationalise" to describe the act of making something seem reasonable or logical, often when it's not entirely so. For example, "He tried to rationalise his decision to quit his job".

What can I say instead of "rationalise"?

You can use alternatives like "justify", "explain", or "streamline" depending on the specific context.

Which is correct, "rationalise" or "rationalize"?

"Rationalise" is the British English spelling, while "rationalize" is the American English spelling. Both are correct, but use the spelling that corresponds to your audience or style guide.

What's the difference between "rationalise" and "explain"?

"Explain" is a neutral term for making something clear and understandable. "Rationalise", on the other hand, often implies finding a seemingly logical reason for something that might be questionable or difficult to accept.