“The Reason” Versus “The Reason Why:” Is There One Right Way?

by | Grammar and Usage, Proofreading | 9 comments

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Reason Why

For some writers—and especially the more persnickety members of the Grammar Police—the phrase “reason why” is a huge pet peeve. “Why” seems redundant when it follows “reason”; shouldn’t you simply say “the reason the cat jumped” as opposed to “the reason why the cat jumped?”

Well, we hate to burst your bubble, but as per the Oxford English Dictionary and Merriam-Webster, both phrases are correct.

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According to the Grammarphobia blog, the OED states that the phrase “reason why” appears as far back as 1484 in William Caxton’s translation of Aesop’s Fables. The expression has been used regularly since (and maybe even before) then.

“Reason why” breaks down like this: Merriam-Webster states that “reason” is a noun that means “cause” or “the thing that makes some fact intelligible.” “Why” functions as a conjunction and means “for which” or “on account of which.” If you think about it, “the cause on account of which an event occurs” makes logical sense and is not superfluous.

As with many grammatical questions, the answer comes down to personal preference. If you’re a writer who values brevity above all else, “the reason the cat jumped” is for you. But if you’re a longtime fan of including “why,” don’t let anyone tell you the reasons why you’re wrong!

Writer QuestionsQUESTION: Which do you prefer? Why?

9 Comments

  1. Karma Bennett

    I feel this way about the phrase “has got”.

    Reply
  2. Debdeb

    Very educative

    Reply
    • Blog Editor

      Thank you!

      Reply
  3. Tom

    It’s redundant because it is unnecessary. If you can give me a sentence where “reason why” conveys something different than using just “reason” or “why” by itself, perhaps you can sway me. But for now, it’s like “conniption fit”. A conniption is a fit. And a reason is why. You can use one or the other, there is no need to use both. The fact that people have been saying “conniption fit” and “reason why” for centuries doesn’t make it not redundant.

    Reply
    • Blog Editor

      Thanks, Tom!

      Reply
  4. Marilyn Bunderson

    I definitely fall into the redundant camp. Why use unnecessary words when they don’t add to beauty, flow, understanding, etc.? I don’t use “reason why,” but as an editor, I generally don’t cut it out, either. I sigh and move on.

    Reply
    • Blog Editor

      Thanks, Marilyn!

      Reply
  5. Grace Donkor

    Very informative

    Reply
    • Blog Editor

      Thank you!

      Reply

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