valid motive

USAGE SUMMARY

"valid motive" is a correct phrase that can be used in written English.
It is typically used to describe an appropriate reason or justification for someone's actions or behavior. Example: The jury considered the defendant's valid motive for stealing the medication as a factor in their decision to give him a lighter sentence.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Scott Roeder's lawyers want jurors to consider his opposition to abortion as a valid motive for murder.

The New York Times

The alleged perpetrator, Robert Donnell was identified by name and a valid motive was provided.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Jensen points to psychologist Charles Ruby who maintains, "terrorism is basically another form of politically motivated violence that is perpetrated by rational, lucid people who have valid motives".

Huffington Post

These are not valid motives.

The New York Times

Because it had a "valid regulatory motive" for canceling the licenses, the government argued, NextWave's failure to pay its debt was not the "sole motive" and the language of Section 525 was therefore not applicable.

The New York Times

He distinguished between valid "political motives" for killing Jews and illegitimate "selfish, sadistic or sexual motives," which would lead to prosecution for murder or manslaughter.

The New York Times - Books

If the transaction is not hocus-pocus, he said, then the deduction is valid and the motive irrelevant.

Forbes

But however nasty the motives, was it a valid journalistic exercise?

The Guardian - Opinion

With the proper definition in place, the irrelevance-of-motive maxim can be understood as stating a valid principle of criminal law, defied only by the advent of a certain kind of bias crime legislation.

Duke University

Moreover, to provide a "valid reason" of participation for these "achieving learners" (Biggs & Moore, 1993) whose learning motive usually pivots on "getting higher scores," assigning the game-based learning tasks as formal assignments became an important act in the setting.

Research and Practice in Technology Enhanced Learning

Valid arguments can be made to preserve certain industries for spillover effects, national security, or other motives, but those cases are rare and certainly do not include solar panels or washing machines.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing legal or ethical considerations, use "valid motive" to emphasize the legitimacy and acceptability of the reason behind an action.

Common error

Ensure you're not using "valid motive" when you should be discussing opportunity. Motive explains why someone did something; opportunity addresses how they were able to do it.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "valid motive" functions as a noun phrase, where 'valid' modifies the noun 'motive'. It describes a reason or justification that is considered acceptable, sound, or legitimate. Ludwig AI confirms this usage through its examples.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "valid motive" is a phrase used to describe a justifiable or legitimate reason for an action. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is grammatically sound and primarily appears in news and media and science contexts. While not exceedingly common, its usage is appropriate when emphasizing the acceptability of a particular motive. Alternative phrases such as "justifiable reason" or "legitimate cause" can be used depending on the specific nuance you want to convey. When using this phrase, ensure that you are clearly articulating the reason why something occurred, differentiating it from how it occurred. Finally, its important to have in mind that the phrase is grammatically correct but has a rare usage.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

justifiable reason

Replaces 'motive' with a more general term for reason, emphasizing justification.

legitimate cause

Substitutes 'motive' with 'cause', implying a more formal and recognized reason.

sound rationale

Uses 'rationale' instead of 'motive', highlighting the logical basis for an action.

good reason

A simpler, more common alternative to "valid motive".

acceptable justification

Focuses on the act of justifying the motive, making it acceptable.

defensible ground

Implies the motive is one that can be defended or argued for.

proper motivation

Emphasizes that the motivation behind an action is correct or appropriate.

cogent explanation

Suggests a clear and convincing reason behind the action.

authentic incentive

Highlights the genuineness and realness of the motive

genuine purpose

Focuses on the real and honest intention behind an action

FAQs

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

You can use "valid motive" to describe a justifiable reason for an action, such as "The defense argued that the defendant had a "valid motive" for his actions because he was protecting his family."

What is a sentence using the phrase "valid reason" instead of "valid motive"?

A sentence using "valid reason" instead of "valid motive" could be: "The company provided a "valid reason" for the layoffs, citing economic downturn."

What's the difference between "valid motive" and "good motive"?

"Valid motive" suggests a legally or ethically sound reason, whereas "good motive" implies moral righteousness. It may have similar implications to phrases like "legitimate motive" or "true motive".

Which is correct, "valid motive" or "invalid motive"?

Both phrases are grammatically correct, but their usage depends on the context. "Valid motive" indicates a justifiable reason, while "invalid motive" suggests an unacceptable or unfounded reason.