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Prepositions with nouns

Using prepositions with reason

Reason commonly appears in phrases such as reason for and reason of. For reason by itself is not usually idiomatic in modern English.

Quick answer

Which form is natural?

Use reason for to explain a cause or justification. Of reason appears in some formal expressions such as faculty of reason or matters of reason. For reason alone is generally incomplete; English usually uses for this reason or for some reason.

The reason for the delay is unclear.
Humans have the faculty of reason.
For this reason, we cancelled the trip.

Choose the pattern by meaning

These forms are not interchangeable. Choose the construction by meaning, not by which preposition appears most often.

1
reason for + noun

Giving a cause or explanation

Reason for is the most common pattern when explaining why something happened.

What is the reason for the change?
There was no reason for concern.
2
reason to + verb

Explaining justification for an action

Reason to is followed by a verb and expresses justification or motive.

You have every reason to complain.
She saw no reason to wait longer.
3
of reason

Formal and fixed expressions

Of reason appears mainly in formal or philosophical expressions, not as a general replacement for reason for.

The debate raised questions of reason and morality.
Humans rely on the faculty of reason.
4
for this reason

Giving a result or conclusion

For this reason is a fixed linking expression meaning because of this.

For this reason, the plan was rejected.
For this reason, many people left early.

See the difference in context

The same subject can take different constructions because each sentence answers a different question.

Construction
Example
Meaning
reason for
The reason for his absence is unknown.
The standard way to explain a cause.
of reason
The philosopher discussed matters of reason.
Formal and limited to specific expressions.
for reason
For reason alone, the phrase sounds incomplete.
Usually nonstandard unless another word follows, such as this or some.
reason to
We have reason to believe the report is accurate.
A basis or justification for an action or belief.

Common mistakes

Some combinations appear in real text but do not mean what learners often assume.

Using for reason without a determiner

English normally uses for this reason or for some reason.

✕ For reason, he stayed home. ✓ For some reason, he stayed home.

Using of reason instead of reason for

Reason for is the normal phrase for causes and explanations.

✕ The reason of the problem was obvious. ✓ The reason for the problem was obvious.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. What is the reason ___ the cancellation?
2. She had good reason ___ worry.
3. ___ this reason, the meeting was postponed.

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Frequently asked questions

Is reason for the most common pattern?

Yes. It is the standard way to explain why something happened.

Can I use of reason?

Yes, but mainly in formal or philosophical expressions such as faculty of reason.

Why does for reason sound incomplete?

Because English normally needs another word after for, such as this, some, or that.

of, about, against, to or for racism? of, about, for, in or on friendship? of, about, for, on or to thing? of, about, for, to or with sex? of, about, on, to or for moon? "of access" or "with access"? "of accommodation" or "for accommodation"? "of accuracy" or "for accuracy"? "of action" or "in action"? "of actor", "with actor" or "by actor"? "of address" or "to address"? "of administration" or "in administration"?

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