underlying motive for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "underlying motive for" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the deeper reasons or intentions behind someone's actions or decisions. Example: "The underlying motive for her sudden resignation was her dissatisfaction with the company's management."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

In his blog post Musk wrote: The underlying motive for a statewide mass transit system is a good one.

The Guardian - Tech

Mrs. Montague, 71, put her finger on what may be the underlying motive for Mr. Feiner's proposal.

The New York Times

Faith discovers that the underlying motive for this abrupt move is to escape the growing scandal around the vicar's recently published scientific findings.

The Guardian - Books

Mr. Parsky was quick last week to deny any underlying motive for the meal and insisted that sometimes brunch is just brunch.

The New York Times

The underlying motive for bank's monitoring is as follows: Production realizations are private information, therefore repayments on un-monitored external finance cannot be extracted from the entrepreneur.

SERIEs

Josh strongly wants to "wave off the FDA" on the release, and it later appears that his underlying motive for this is to rectify a previous mistake.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

Ideas are studied not as underlying motives for action, but in another way.

The New York Times - Books

The regime plays down political news to maintain an image of continuity following Fidel's retirement.The underlying motives for the changes are so far hard to discern.

The Economist

Before policymakers send more taxpayers' dollars to testing companies, we need to come to grips with many issues, such as the purpose and underlying motives for more standardized tests.

Huffington Post

The former perspective has emphasized professional dominance and autonomy as underlying motives for engaging in management [ 21- 23].

BMC Health Services Research

For example, Nietzsche (whose version of this idea is the more plausible) traced back such Christian values as love and forgiveness to a contrary underlying motive of resentment [Ressentiment].

SEP

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "underlying motive for", ensure you can substantiate the motive with evidence or logical reasoning. Avoid speculative claims without support.

Common error

A common mistake is assuming that a correlated factor is the "underlying motive for" something, without proving a direct causal link. Always establish a clear cause-and-effect relationship.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "underlying motive for" functions as a noun phrase that identifies the fundamental reason or intention behind an action or decision. Ludwig AI confirms its correct and usable form in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

16%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "underlying motive for" is a grammatically correct and usable English expression used to describe the fundamental reason or intention behind actions or decisions. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is suitable for explaining the deeper, often less obvious, reasons behind events. While not extremely frequent, it's commonly found in news reports and scientific analyses. When using this phrase, it's important to differentiate between correlation and causation, ensuring there's a clear link between the motive and the outcome. Alternatives include "hidden reason for" or "fundamental cause of", which may be more appropriate depending on the specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

hidden reason for

Emphasizes the concealed nature of the motive.

fundamental cause of

Focuses on the causal aspect of the motive, highlighting it as a root cause.

real intention behind

Highlights the intentional aspect of the motive, suggesting a deliberate purpose.

primary driver of

Suggests the motive is a key factor propelling an action or decision.

basic rationale for

Focuses on the logical justification underlying an action or decision.

core motivation for

Emphasizes the motivational aspect, highlighting the central drive.

true purpose of

Highlights the real objective or aim behind an action.

deep-seated reason for

Suggests a long-standing and deeply ingrained cause.

ultimate goal of

Points to the final, overarching objective.

driving force behind

Emphasizes the powerful impetus that compels action.

FAQs

How can I use "underlying motive for" in a sentence?

You can use "underlying motive for" to explain the fundamental reason behind an action or decision. For instance, "The "hidden reason for" the company's restructuring was to increase profits".

What are some alternatives to "underlying motive for"?

Alternatives include "real intention behind", "fundamental cause of", or "primary driver of", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is it better to say "underlying reason for" or "underlying motive for"?

While both are acceptable, "underlying motive for" emphasizes intention, whereas "underlying reason for" focuses on the broader justification or explanation.

What's the difference between "underlying motive for" and "ulterior motive"?

"Underlying motive for" simply refers to the basic reason, while "ulterior motive" implies a concealed and often self-serving reason.