suspected reason

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "suspected reason" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a reason that is believed to be true but has not been confirmed. Example: "The suspected reason for the delay in the project is a lack of resources."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

The suspected reason?

The Economist

And the suspected reason?

The Washington Post

One suspected reason was political embarrassment over the involvement of a Lonrho director, Angus Ogilvy, husband of Princess Alexandra.

The Guardian

But recent research suggests that this may not be for the usually suspected reason — a glass ceiling molded from male prejudice.

The New York Times

Indeed, one suspected reason for Khaled al-Asaad's murder is that he would not, even under torture, give details of the whereabouts of valuable antiquities.

The Guardian

A suspected reason was that drug-eluting stents were being used to treat longer lesions in larger vessels than those for which they had been officially approved.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

The guidance warns against reporting suspected reasons for a suicide and advises not to disclose the contents of any suicide note.

The Guardian

At baseline, no differences in disease severity, distributions of age and gender, or suspected reasons for acute renal failure were observed.

Critical Care

The theory and suspected reasons of developing obesity were discussed with the patients more frequently by female care providers than male physicians (64.6% vs 44.1%, p = 0.018).

BMC Family Practice

The most common suspected reasons for elevated OG in the absence of toxic alcohol ingestion (in descending order of frequency) were suspected alcoholic ketoacidosis, renal failure, shock, diabetic ketoacidosis, and recent administration of mannitol.

BMC Clinical Pathology

Calls for unity and reform float past people who've lost jobs, pensions, health care, even their homes and who suspect reason and civility alone won't get them back.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "suspected reason", ensure that the context clearly indicates the uncertainty or lack of definitive proof. Avoid presenting it as a confirmed fact.

Common error

Avoid presenting a "suspected reason" as a confirmed fact. Instead, use hedging language to indicate the level of uncertainty.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "suspected reason" functions as a noun phrase, often serving as the subject or object of a sentence. It identifies a potential cause or explanation that is not yet confirmed. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

40%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "suspected reason" is a grammatically sound noun phrase used to describe a potential cause or explanation that is not yet definitively proven. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and usability in English writing. While "suspected reason" appears most frequently in news and scientific contexts, it maintains a neutral register suitable for various forms of communication. When employing this phrase, it is crucial to underscore the uncertainty involved and avoid presenting it as confirmed fact. Alternatives such as "presumed cause" or "alleged justification" can provide nuanced variations in meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

presumed cause

Replaces "reason" with "cause", implying a potential origin or basis for something, but also carrying an assumption.

alleged justification

Uses "alleged" to emphasize the uncertainty and lack of proof, also replacing "reason" with "justification".

supposed explanation

Shifts from "reason" to "explanation", and uses "supposed" to express doubt about the accuracy of the reason.

conjectured motive

Replaces "reason" with "motive", indicating a driving force or intention that is only guessed at.

speculated basis

Uses "basis" instead of "reason" to refer to the underlying support for something, highlighting the speculative nature.

theorized rationale

Expresses the idea of a reason as a formal theory or explanation, still emphasizing that it is unproven.

putative grounds

Replaces "reason" with "grounds", also implying an assumption, and uses "putative" to emphasize the uncertainty and lack of proof.

ostensible pretext

Indicates a reason that is given as the official explanation, but is potentially false or misleading.

rumored motivation

Expresses the idea of a reason as a motivation that is only being rumored or gossiped about.

inferred intent

Uses "inferred" to emphasize the subjective interpretation or deduction of someone's intention.

FAQs

How can I use "suspected reason" in a sentence?

You can use "suspected reason" when indicating a belief about why something happened without having definitive proof. For example, "The "suspected reason" for the project's failure was inadequate planning".

What's a good alternative to "suspected reason"?

Alternatives include "presumed cause", "alleged justification", or "supposed explanation" depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "suspected reason" or "known reason"?

The choice depends on the context. "Suspected reason" implies uncertainty, while "known reason" indicates certainty. Use "suspected reason" when you believe something to be true but lack proof.

Can "suspected reason" be used in formal writing?

Yes, "suspected reason" can be used in formal writing, but ensure that the level of certainty is clearly indicated, avoiding definitive statements without supporting evidence.