reasonable rationale

USAGE SUMMARY

"reasonable rationale" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to describe a situation in which a person's behavior makes sense given the circumstances. For example, "Given the current state of the economy, my decision to save money rather than invest was a reasonable rationale."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

15 human-written examples

"I appreciate the engineering needs," she said, adding that there was a "perfectly reasonable rationale" for removing many parts.

The New York Times - Science

There is simply no precedent — or even reasonable rationale — for Iran working any plot, no matter where located, through a non-Muslim proxy such as Mexican drug gangs.

The New York Times

The use of taxonomic knowledge is the most scientifically reasonable rationale.

Evolution: Education and Outreach

That's why they want to hire you, although they may tell themselves, "I like this candidate's experience in international shipping," or some other grown-up and reasonable rationale for hiring you.

Forbes

"More children bring more blessings" has been regarded as an obstacle in implementing a child planning policy, as well as the reason for the vicious circle of high fertility and increased poverty, but there is unanimous consensus among scholars that giving birth to more children and preferring to have sons is a reasonable rationale, given living in a resource-limited environment.

The Journal of Chinese Sociology

If there is a reasonable rationale for failing to extend this critical tax exemption, let's have it.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

45 human-written examples

But all the administration needs to do is offer clear, reasonable rationales for its choices; it doesn't need to make the rule weaker to make it stand up in court.

Huffington Post

Research has shown that society finds intrinsic value in having a voice in decisions; allowing the public to set reasonable rationales provides one avenue for this voice (Litva et al. 2002; Wiseman et al. 2003; Wailoo and Anand 2005).

Health Policy and Planning

This provides policy analysts with a reasonable economic rationale and justification for planning and designing a new littoral land-based energy conversion process to provide low carbon jet and diesel fuel for operations at sea.

Energy Policy

The results of a slow and steady training schedule will be evident during the process, when a knowledgeable, reasonable and rationale client makes thoughtful, strategic, informative decisions rather than reactionary decisions.

Huffington Post

Category C The off-label use medication has a reasonable therapeutic rationale but here is insufficient evidence to thoroughly allay concerns about its safety, efficacy, and cost-effectiveness for the innovative use, yet it is not considered a clinical research.

European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "reasonable rationale", ensure that the reason you're describing is not only logical but also justifiable to a broad audience. Provide enough context so your audience understands the reasoning.

Common error

Avoid using "reasonable rationale" to describe something that is merely a post-hoc rationalization. A true rationale should be a genuine justification, not just a convenient excuse.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "reasonable rationale" functions as a noun phrase, where the adjective "reasonable" modifies the noun "rationale". It describes a justification or reason that is logical, sensible, and well-founded. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase is correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

33%

Formal & Business

27%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "reasonable rationale" is a commonly used and grammatically sound expression that signifies a logical and justifiable reason for something. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is considered correct and usable in written English. Its prevalence spans across various domains, including science, news media, and formal business settings. While the term is considered correct in its usage it is important to remember to use the phrase to describe something that is a genuine justification rather than something that is just a rationalization. Alternatives such as "justifiable reason" or "logical basis" can be used for variety, but "reasonable rationale" remains a clear and effective choice when emphasizing the validity of a reasoning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

rational explanation

Highlights the existence of a rational argument.

valid reason

Focuses on the soundness and acceptability of the reason

justifiable reason

Emphasizes the defensibility and legitimacy of the reason.

valid justification

Focuses on the soundness and acceptability of the provided justification.

logical basis

Highlights the logical and coherent foundation of the reasoning.

sound reasoning

Stresses the quality and validity of the thinking process behind the rationale.

cogent explanation

Indicates a clear, logical, and persuasive explanation.

sensible grounds

Highlights the practicality and common sense supporting the rationale.

defensible argument

Focuses on the ability to defend the argument with evidence and logic.

plausible explanation

Emphasizes the believability and credibility of the given explanation.

FAQs

How can I use "reasonable rationale" in a sentence?

Use "reasonable rationale" to describe a justification that is both logical and justifiable. For example: "The company's decision to invest in renewable energy had a "reasonable rationale" based on environmental concerns and long-term cost savings."

What's the difference between "reasonable rationale" and "rationalization"?

"Reasonable rationale" refers to a genuine, logical justification for a decision or action, while "rationalization" often implies creating a post-hoc justification to make a questionable decision seem acceptable.

What can I say instead of "reasonable rationale"?

You can use alternatives like "justifiable reason", "valid justification", or "logical basis" depending on the context.

Is "reasonable rationale" redundant? Isn't a rationale always supposed to be reasonable?

While a rationale should ideally be reasonable, explicitly stating it as such can emphasize the clarity and defensibility of the reasoning, distinguishing it from rationalizations or weak justifications.