the single reason for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "the single reason for" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when you want to emphasize that there is only one specific cause or explanation for something. Example: "The single reason for the project's failure was a lack of funding."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

The single stimulus behind the FQPA was the growing evidence of increased childhood vulnerability, and the single reason for its unanimous, bipartisan passage was to protect children.

Environmental Health Perspectives

Where women had selected maternal preference and recommendation as the only reasons for their caesarean, the single reason for caesarean was coded as shared preference.

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Although our predictions are not of the specific trials and so differ in many ways, the largest single reason for the difference is that we have predicted all episodes whereas the trial data refers to treated episodes only.

Plosone

The biggest single reason for the swing is that in 2011 India came to the Caribbean and played one T20, three Tests and five ODIs.

The Guardian - Sport

But the biggest single reason for the severe personnel shortage can be summed up in a word: money.

The New York Times

The biggest single reason for the difference in income distribution between Brazil and America is more regressive public spending in Brazil.

The Economist

He was also partly responsible for talking up what may have been the biggest single reason for the victory over Paris London's cultural diversity.

The Economist

That is the biggest single reason for the persistence of poverty.Economists argue about whether agriculture has drifted or progressed since 1991.

The Economist

By far, the biggest single reason for the persistent black joblessness is discrimination.

Huffington Post

A couple of other thoughts on last Friday's performance in Toulouse from this less well-credentialled observer, having watched the first 50 minutes again on video since Monday's blog, are that Maurie Fa'asavalu was even better than I thought on the night, and that James Roby remains the biggest single reason for English optimism - ahead even of Leon Pryce.

The Guardian - Sport

Because voting could be done anywhere, the biggest single reason for provisional ballots — going to the wrong place to vote — would no longer matter.

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using this phrase, ensure that the context supports the claim that there is indeed only one primary reason to prevent misleading the reader.

Common error

Avoid using "the single reason for" when multiple factors contribute significantly to an outcome. It's more accurate to acknowledge contributing factors when a situation is complex. Consider using "a key reason for" or "one of the main reasons for" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "the single reason for" functions as a causal connector, explicitly stating the primary cause or explanation for a particular event or situation. This emphasizes that there is one specific reason, as supported by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "the single reason for" is a causal connector used to emphasize the primary explanation for a specific event or situation. Ludwig AI analysis confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. While versatile, it's crucial to ensure that only one primary cause exists before using this phrase to maintain accuracy. Alternatives include "the sole cause of" and "the only explanation for". Though grammatically sound, its infrequency suggests careful consideration when selecting it over more common causal expressions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

the one and only reason for

Adds emphasis using "one and only" to reinforce the singularity of the reason.

the sole cause of

Replaces "reason" with "cause" and "single" with "sole", emphasizing the uniqueness of the cause.

the only explanation for

Substitutes "reason" with "explanation" and "single" with "only", highlighting the uniqueness of the explanation.

the isolated cause of

Emphasizes that the cause is separate and distinct from other potential influences.

the primary factor in

Replaces "reason" with "factor" and "single" with "primary", shifting focus to a key contributing element.

the main driver of

Changes "reason" to "driver", suggesting a force behind the effect.

the key determinant of

Replaces "reason" with "determinant", indicating a deciding factor.

the principal motive for

Substitutes "reason" with "motive", suggesting an underlying cause.

the underlying basis for

Changes "reason" to "basis", highlighting the foundation or root cause.

the fundamental rationale for

Replaces "reason" with "rationale", implying a logical justification.

FAQs

How can I use "the single reason for" in a sentence?

Use "the single reason for" to emphasize that there is only one specific cause or explanation. For example, "The single reason for the project's success was the team's dedication."

What are some alternatives to "the single reason for"?

You can use alternatives like "the sole cause of", "the only explanation for", or "the primary factor in" depending on the context.

Is it correct to use "the single reason for" when there are multiple contributing factors?

No, it is not accurate. "The single reason for" should only be used when there is truly one primary cause. Otherwise, use phrases that acknowledge multiple factors.

What's the difference between "the single reason for" and "a main reason for"?

"The single reason for" implies that there is only one reason, while "a main reason for" acknowledges that there are other contributing factors. Choose the phrase that best reflects the reality of the situation.