this is possibly why

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "this is possibly why" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to suggest a reason or explanation for something that may not be certain but is plausible. Example: "The project was delayed; this is possibly why we missed the deadline."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

This is possibly why many of us are most creative in our youth.

The Guardian

This is possibly why national papers have far lower levels of trust than broadcasters, or indeed many other forms of communication with the exception of social media.

The Guardian

And this is possibly why it has also now raised £1.5 million in seed funding, announced at The Europas today in London.

TechCrunch

As we mentioned earlier, we've got a lot of projects in the pipe (this is possibly why most of us are always twitchy and sleep-deprived).

Huffington Post

Since the hypolipidemic effect is beneficial for the action of insulin to lower plasma glucose levels, this is possibly why insulin sensitivity was elevated in the present study.

BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine

The LTT will be hard to detect, being 1/3 of the amplitude of that seen in kinetic unfolding systems and representing the unfolding only of imperfect strands; this is possibly why LTTs have remained unreported for so long.

Biomaterials

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

I think that is possibly why he has trouble with girlfriends".

Independent

"This group is obviously the most interesting one, because you've got to look, you've got to find, you've got to search, so that is possibly why it has taken more time," Singh said on Thursday.

BBC

Utilisation of skilled attendants is also preventive and that is possibly why women who have had previous pregnancy complications prefer to have a skilled attendant for subsequent deliveries, and thus reduce their vulnerability.

BMJ Open

Understandably, people in the Latvian capital aren't too happy about this, which is possibly why the city has opened the doors to a building that will attract a very different kind of visitor the former KGB headquarters, which haven't been accessible to the public for the past 20 years.

Vice

Understandably, people in the Latvian capital aren't too happy about this, which is possibly why the city has opened the doors to a building that will attract a very different kind of visitor – the former KGB headquarters, which haven't been accessible to the public for the past 20 years.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "this is possibly why", ensure the connection between the statement and the potential reason is clear to the reader. Provide context to support the suggested causality.

Common error

Avoid using "this is possibly why" when there is definitive evidence or a more certain explanation available. Overusing hedging language can weaken your argument.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "this is possibly why" functions as a causal connector, linking a situation or event with a potential reason or explanation. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it introduces a degree of uncertainty while suggesting causality.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

40%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "this is possibly why" serves as a useful phrase to introduce potential reasons or explanations with a degree of uncertainty. Ludwig AI confirms that it is grammatically correct and suitable for various contexts, most commonly in news and media, and scientific domains. When using this phrase, it’s crucial to ensure clarity in the connection you’re making and avoid overstating the certainty of your claim. Alternatives like "this might be the reason why" or "this could explain why" can offer similar functions with slight variations in tone and emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

this might be the reason why

Suggests a possibility, similar to the original phrase, but uses 'might' to soften the assertion.

this could explain why

Offers a potential explanation, using 'could' to indicate a degree of uncertainty.

this may be the explanation for

Indicates a possible explanation, with 'may' suggesting a similar level of uncertainty.

a possible explanation is that

Rephrases the idea, focusing on the explanation itself and presenting it as a possibility.

this is a potential cause of

Shifts the focus to causality, suggesting the mentioned factor might be the reason for the observed effect.

one possible reason is

Highlights that this is just one among several potential reasons, reducing the assertiveness.

this potentially explains

Streamlines the original phrase by using 'potentially' as an adverb to modify 'explains'.

this is conceivably why

Emphasizes the possibility, using 'conceivably' to indicate something is imaginable or believable as a reason.

it's plausible that this is why

Introduces a level of believability using "plausible", suggesting the explanation is reasonable.

this inference accounts for

Takes a formal, analytical approach, stating that the previous point helps to explain the current situation.

FAQs

How can I use "this is possibly why" in a sentence?

Use "this is possibly why" to suggest a potential explanation for something. For example, "The experiment failed; this is possibly why the data is skewed."

What's a more formal alternative to "this is possibly why"?

For a more formal tone, consider using "a possible explanation is that" or "this may be the explanation for".

Is it correct to say "this is probably why" instead of "this is possibly why"?

Yes, "this is probably why" suggests a higher degree of certainty than "this is possibly why". Choose the phrase that best reflects your confidence in the explanation.

What is the difference between "this is possibly why" and "this is likely why"?

"This is likely why" implies a stronger probability than "this is possibly why". Use "this is possibly why" when you want to present an explanation as a mere suggestion, not a strong assertion.