reason to suspect

USAGE SUMMARY

"reason to suspect" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when indicating a justification for doubt or suspicion regarding someone or something. Example: "The detective had a reason to suspect the suspect's alibi." Alternative expressions include "grounds for suspicion" and "cause for doubt."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

They had little reason to suspect fraud.

The Economist

They had little reason to suspect trouble.

The New York Times

There is reason to suspect sexism.

The New York Times - Magazine

Authorities said they had reason to suspect the militants.

The New York Times

"I don't have any reason to suspect them".

The New York Times

There was more reason to suspect him, she contended.

The New York Times

There was no reason to suspect any connection.

The New York Times

There's no reason to suspect that Hockey's budget carries any such significance.

The Guardian - Opinion

Liu Xia, his sister, has good reason to suspect politics at work in his prosecution.

The Economist

That is a reason to suspect that the openness of this new era will have limits.

The New York Times

But there is good reason to suspect he is far too pessimistic.Start with labour-force participation.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "reason to suspect" with qualifiers like "good", "little" or "no" to precisely calibrate the strength of your argument. For example, saying "little reason to suspect" effectively dismisses a theory without being overly aggressive.

Common error

Avoid using "reason to suspect" when you only have a gut feeling. In professional and academic writing, this phrase implies that there is observable evidence or a logical path leading to the conclusion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "reason to suspect" functions as a noun phrase where the head noun "reason" is modified by an infinitive phrase. In the examples provided by Ludwig, it often serves as the direct object of verbs like "have" or "find". It acts as a logical bridge between observed evidence and a tentative conclusion.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Social Media

5%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In conclusion, "reason to suspect" is a highly versatile and professional phrase used to justify a line of inquiry or a specific belief. As seen in the many examples provided by Ludwig, it is equally effective in the high-stakes reporting of The New York Times as it is in rigorous scientific papers on ScienceDirect. Its primary strength lies in its ability to sound objective; it frames a suspicion as a logical outcome of evidence rather than a personal bias. Whether you are dismissing a theory with "no "reason to suspect"" or proposing one with "strong "reason to suspect"", the phrase provides a sophisticated way to manage doubt and certainty in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

grounds to suspect

Often used in legal or official contexts to imply a stronger evidentiary basis.

grounds for suspicion

Changes the grammatical structure to a prepositional phrase, often sounding more formal.

reason to believe

Shifts the focus from suspicion of wrongdoing to a general belief or conviction.

cause to suspect

Suggests a specific triggering event or piece of evidence led to the suspicion.

reason to think

More conversational and less intense than using the word suspect.

basis to assume

More academic or logical, implying a theoretical starting point rather than a hunch.

reason to doubt

Focuses on skepticism toward a claim rather than an accusation of an action.

grounds to suppose

Suggests a lighter, more speculative form of suspicion.

room for suspicion

Implies that while evidence isn't conclusive, the possibility of wrongdoing exists.

cause for concern

Focuses on the negative implications or worry rather than the search for a culprit.

FAQs

How do I use "reason to suspect" in a sentence?

You can use it to justify a hypothesis or an investigation, such as: "The auditor found several discrepancies, giving him "reason to suspect" financial mismanagement."

What can I say instead of "reason to suspect"?

Depending on your tone, you might use "grounds for suspicion" for legal contexts, "reason to believe" for general assertions, or "reason to think" for informal speech.

What is the difference between "reason to suspect" and "reason to doubt"?

While both involve skepticism, ""reason to suspect"" usually implies you think something hidden or bad is true, whereas "reason to doubt" means you find it hard to believe a stated fact or claim.

Is it "reason to suspect" or "reason for suspecting"?

Both are grammatically correct, but "reason to suspect" is more common in modern prose. The infinitive form often sounds more direct and purposeful in journalistic writing.