provide a rationale

Meaning

This phrase means to offer a set of reasons or a logical basis for a particular decision, belief, or course of action. In academic writing, researchers use it to justify their methodology, hypothesis, or choice of topic. The tone is highly formal and analytical.

Examples

• The author fails to provide a rationale for excluding certain samples from the study.

  The author fails to provide a rationale for excluding certain samples from the study.

• You must provide a clear rationale for your choice of research methodology.

  You must provide a clear rationale for your choice of research methodology.

• The government has yet to provide a rationale for the sudden policy shift.

  The government has yet to provide a rationale for the sudden policy shift.

• In the introduction, we provide a rationale for why this topic deserves urgent attention.

  In the introduction, we provide a rationale for why this topic deserves urgent attention.

• The board asked the project manager to provide a rationale for the budget increase.

  The board asked the project manager to provide a rationale for the budget increase.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ The researcher provided a rational for the project.

  ✓ The researcher provided a rationale for the project.

  'Rational' is an adjective meaning logical. 'Rationale' is the noun meaning the underlying reason or set of reasons.

• ✗ Please provide a rationale of your decision.

  ✓ Please provide a rationale for your decision.

  Use the preposition 'for' after 'rationale' when stating what is being justified, not 'of' or 'about'.

Related Expressions

Practice

• The paper does not ___ for why this specific model was chosen.

  💡 Offer a logical explanation or justification.

  Show answer

  provide a rationale

• Before we approve the funding, you need to ___ for the expansion.

  💡 Give a set of reasons.

  Show answer

  provide a rationale