reasons about

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "reasons about" is not standard in written English and may be considered incorrect.
It is not commonly used, and the intended meaning may be unclear without additional context. Example: "He often reasons about complex philosophical issues, trying to find clarity in his thoughts."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

We consider envisioning to be a qualitative reasoning method that reasons about actions and their effects based on simulation-based projections.

Artificial Intelligence

Irrelevance reasoning refers to the process in which a system reasons about which parts of its knowledge are relevant (or irrelevant) to a specific query.

Artificial Intelligence

He applies this principle, he says, using his old method of accepting the reasoning (logos) that seems best to him as he reasons about it (46b).

SEP

Logic does not deal with the particular cases, but only with the most generally valid forms of reasoning or inference, ones that are valid no matter what one reasons about.

SEP

The Geometric Modeler reasons about topology and geometry.

Artificial Intelligence in Engineering

The model jointly reasons about instructions and raw visual input obtained from a camera sensor.

Cornell University

The system reasons about an emotion-generating situation and tries to infer the user's emotion by using the OCC model.

Computers & Education

"I have my reasons about it, especially the technology," he said.

The New York Times

For reasons about which "Tiger Mother" readers can speculate, Mr. Rubenfeld sends Freud delving into the causes of shell shock.

The New York Times - Books

Our approach takes these assumptions to reasons about their logical consequences (hence increasing completeness) and to reveal inconsistencies (hence increasing correctness).

Journal of Systems and Software

Within Artificial Intelligence, classical planning reasons about whether actions are executable, but makes the assumption that the actions will succeed (with some probability).

Artificial Intelligence

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for clarity and precision, replace "reasons about" with stronger alternatives like "considers", "analyzes", or "explores" depending on the specific context.

Common error

Avoid using "reasons about" in formal or academic contexts, as it may come across as vague or non-standard. Instead, choose more precise verbs that accurately reflect the type of reasoning involved.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "reasons about" functions as a verb phrase, indicating the act of engaging in a cognitive process. It describes the action of thinking logically and drawing conclusions. Ludwig AI reports that the phrase is not considered standard in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

36%

News & Media

33%

Academia

14%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

6%

Wiki

6%

Formal & Business

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "reasons about" is frequently encountered, it is not always considered grammatically correct. Ludwig AI suggests it may be perceived as non-standard. Its function is to describe a cognitive process, and it appears in various contexts, especially science, news, and academic writing. For clarity and precision, especially in formal writing, it's best to opt for stronger alternatives like "considers", "analyzes", or "explores". Despite its prevalence, careful consideration should be given to its usage to ensure effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

thinks about

Focuses on the general act of thinking, simplifying the original phrase.

considers

Implies a more careful and deliberate thought process.

contemplates

Suggests a deep and reflective consideration.

reflects on

Emphasizes thoughtful consideration of past events or ideas.

analyzes

Highlights a detailed and systematic examination of something.

examines

Indicates a close and careful inspection.

explores

Suggests an investigation into a topic or idea.

speculates on

Implies forming theories or conjectures without firm evidence.

infers

Focuses on drawing conclusions based on evidence or reasoning.

deduces

Highlights the process of reaching a conclusion through logical reasoning.

FAQs

What are some alternatives to "reasons about"?

You can use alternatives like "thinks about", "considers", or "analyzes" depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is "reasons about" grammatically correct?

While commonly found, "reasons about" is not always considered grammatically sound. It's often better to use a more precise verb or rephrase the sentence for clarity.

How can I use "reasons about" effectively in a sentence?

Although usage exists, consider whether a stronger verb might improve clarity. For example, instead of "He reasons about the problem", try "He analyzes the problem".

What's the difference between "reasons about" and "thinks about"?

"Thinks about" is a more general term, while "reasons about" implies a more structured or logical thought process. However, "reasons about" can often be replaced with more precise verbs.