understandable motive

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "understandable motive" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing reasons or justifications for someone's actions that are clear and logical. Example: "Given the circumstances, her decision to leave early was based on an understandable motive related to her family obligations."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

It's an understandable motive, but she risks missing the bigger picture.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Still, the choice was made by a government that wanted to distance itself from the British era, and that is an understandable motive, one that has rewritten the names of many countries, provinces and cities around the globe.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

When it comes to chemical weapons, the Syrian opposition has similar and wholly understandable motives.

Independent

According to Arendt a distinctive feature of radical evil is that it isn't done for humanly understandable motives such as self-interest, but merely to reinforce totalitarian control and the idea that everything is possible (Arendt 1951, 437 459; Bernstein 2002, 203 224).

SEP

For doctors in general, the understandable need to deny aggressive urges makes it particularly difficult for them to recognize this reaction to patients: "In some way we are always reassuring ourselves that our motives are beyond question because we have chosen to spend our days in the business of understanding others and helping them to improve their lives" (pp 253) [ 50].

BMC Family Practice

It ruled that voluntary euthanasia remained murder, "however understandable the motives".

The Economist

They stated: "Voluntary euthanasia is murder, however understandable the motives may be".

The Guardian

But Lord Justice Toulson, Mr Justice Royce and Mrs Justice Macur unanimously agreed it would be wrong for the court to depart from the long-established legal position that "voluntary euthanasia is murder, however understandable the motives may be".

The Guardian

According to her, such radical evil involves much more than acting on the basis of "humanly understandable, sinful motives".

Huffington Post

Those seem fairly straightforward and understandable, but his motives for establishing a peace prize are mysterious.

Independent

Ms. Stedman builds a solid case for all sides — or, at least, makes everyone's motives understandable.

The New York Times - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "understandable motive" to convey that the reason behind an action is easily grasped and makes sense within the given context.

Common error

Avoid using "understandable motive" when discussing highly complex or nuanced situations. In such cases, opt for phrases that better capture the intricate reasoning involved.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "understandable motive" functions primarily as an adjective-noun combination to describe a reason or cause that is easily comprehended or makes sense in a given context. Ludwig AI confirms the correctness of the phrase.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Science

17%

Encyclopedias

6%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "understandable motive" is a grammatically correct and relatively rare expression used to describe a reason or cause that is easily comprehended. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is indeed usable in written English. It is most frequently found in News & Media contexts, where clarity and justification are key. While generally acceptable, avoid overusing it in extremely complex situations. Instead, opt for more nuanced language to reflect the intricacy of the reasoning involved. Alternatives such as "comprehensible reason" and "intelligible cause" can provide similar clarity with slightly different emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

comprehensible reason

Focuses on the ease with which the reason can be understood.

intelligible cause

Highlights the clarity and logic behind the cause.

reasonable grounds

Emphasizes the justification as being fair and sensible.

valid rationale

Underscores the legitimacy and soundness of the reasoning.

justifiable incentive

Puts the focus on the fairness of the incentive.

explicable motivation

Highlights the motivation and emphasizes that it can be explained.

appreciable inspiration

Emphasizes that the inspiration is notable and can be perceived.

transparent purpose

Underlines the clarity and lack of hidden agendas behind the purpose.

evident stimulus

Emphasizes that the stimulus is obvious and easily seen.

apparent driver

Highlights that the driver (reason) is clear and easily noticed.

FAQs

How can I use "understandable motive" in a sentence?

You can use "understandable motive" to describe a reason for someone's actions that is easy to comprehend. For example: "His decision to resign was based on an "understandable motive" related to his family."

What are some alternatives to "understandable motive"?

Some alternatives to "understandable motive" include "comprehensible reason", "intelligible cause", or "reasonable grounds".

Is it correct to say "a motive is understandable"?

Yes, the phrasing "a motive is understandable" is grammatically correct and conveys that the reason behind an action is easily comprehended. You can also use ""understandable motive"" as an adjective-noun combination.

What's the difference between "understandable motive" and "justifiable motive"?

"Understandable motive" implies that the reason is easy to comprehend. "Justifiable motive" suggests that the reason is not only understandable but also morally or legally defensible.