state the rationale

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "state the rationale" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when asking someone to explain the reasoning or justification behind a decision or action. Example: "In your report, please state the rationale for your proposed changes to the project plan."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

They would also have to state the rationale for choosing that market maker.

The New York Times

While the Torah does not state the rationale for most kashrut laws, many reasons have been suggested, including philosophical, practical and hygienic.

Wikipedia

Many studies do not state the rationale for the dose size, and dosing regimes are not evaluated systematically.

European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology

In addition, although the authors of the AMSTAR checklist explicitly state the rationale for the inclusion of each item, clear guidance on the use of the items to evaluate a systematic review is lacking in some cases.

BMC Medical Research Methodology

As Clayton and McKeigue [ 102] state, "The rationale for setting up cohort studies of genetic effects on disease risk is based on the argument that, because cohort studies can measure environmental exposures before disease onset, they are better than the case control design for study of gene-environment interactions.

Environmental Health: A Global Access Science Source

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

President Obama clearly stated the rationale for the mandate at the last week's health care forum.

The New York Times

In stating the rationale for the majority decision, Supervisor Leahy (joined by Judge Lehr) articulated the view expressed by Secretary of State Katherine Harris that any error contemplated by the manual recount laws was confined to mechanical failure.

The New York Times

He stated the rationale for his request: "I took an oath to uphold the United States Constitution, and I intend to do so". Almost three weeks later, on July 12, Rep. Griffith requested additional information from the Intelligence Committee based on press accounts he had read about Yahoo's unsuccessful efforts in court to resist joining the NSA's PRISM program.

The Guardian - Opinion

Rarely if ever have I seen a published scientific paper that states the rationale for its existence so baldly in terms of public perception - specifically, "the need for the public to appreciate the significance of human-made global warming".

BBC

This approach advises that decisions must be effectively communicated to doctors, stating the rationale for the decision and giving the opportunity to appeal.

BMC Health Services Research

2. Grey material including official regulations and guidance, for Germany, Sozialgesetzbuch V (SGB5) above all and for England the white paper [ 14] stating the rationale of the current commissioning system.. 3. Participation in three national events involving German SHIs.

BMC Health Services Research

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Place the phrase at the beginning of a section or sentence to clearly define the expectation for the upcoming content

Common error

Ensure you use the noun "rationale" (with an 'e' at the end) which refers to a set of reasons, rather than the adjective "rational" which describes someone who is sensible. Writing "state the rational" is a common spelling error that changes the grammatical structure entirely.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "state the rationale" functions as a transitive verb phrase where "state" is the action and "the rationale" is the direct object. According to Ludwig, it is used to command or describe the act of declaring a logical foundation. It typically appears in instructions, requirements or high-level analysis where transparency is mandated.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

45%

Academia

25%

News & Media

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

7%

Wiki

2%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In conclusion, "state the rationale" is a precise and authoritative phrase primarily used in formal, academic and scientific contexts. Ludwig AI indicates that it is a correct and highly usable expression when the goal is to elicit a comprehensive justification for an action or theory. Unlike simpler phrases such as "give a reason", this expression implies a need for a structural and logical breakdown of thoughts. It is especially prevalent in research methodology and legal or political reporting where the 'why' behind a decision is scrutinized. Writers should be careful not to confuse the noun "rationale" with the adjective "rational" and should employ this phrase when a high level of professional transparency is required.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

explain the reasoning

Offers a slightly less formal but equally clear alternative

provide the justification

Shifts focus to the defensive proof of an action

articulate the logic

Emphasizes the internal coherence of the argument

define the basis

Focuses on the fundamental facts supporting a decision

clarify the grounds

Used often in legal settings to ask for the basis of a claim

enumerate the reasons

Suggests a list format for the explanation

outline the motivation

Refers more to the psychological or strategic intent

specify the purpose

Focuses specifically on the intended goal rather than the underlying reason

set out the argument

Suggests a more detailed, structural presentation of facts

detail the premise

Focuses on the initial assumption that leads to the conclusion

FAQs

How to use "state the rationale" in a sentence?

You can use it in formal requests or descriptions, such as: "The committee requested that the department "state the rationale" for the budget increase."

What can I say instead of "state the rationale"?

Depending on the tone, you could use "explain the reasoning", "provide the justification" or "clarify the logic".

Which is correct, "state the rationale" or "state the reason"?

Both are correct, but "state the rationale" is more formal and implies a comprehensive set of underlying principles, whereas "state the reason" is simpler and more direct.

Is "state the rationale" used in scientific writing?

Yes, it is very common in scientific literature to "state the rationale for the study" within the introduction or methodology sections.