This archive report was first published on 5 August 2019.
The Redundancy of 'The Reason Why' ¶
Published on August 5, 2019, in The Standard, a Kenyan newspaper, an article highlighted the redundancy of the phrase 'the reason why.' This phrase is often used to explain or justify an action, but it's repetitive and can be tautological.
When you give reasons, you are basically responding to 'why.' On the other hand, 'why' seeks to find the 'reason'; the rationale for certain actions. This distinction is crucial in effective communication.
For instance, if someone asks, 'Why did Governor Mike Sonko spill the beans on Member of Parliament Ken Okoth's secret love affair during the latter's requiem mass?' A response could be, 'The reason Sonko chose to spill the beans is because he was privy to the arrangement.' However, rephrasing this to 'The reason is because he was privy to the arrangement' would be tautological.
While 'reason why' is tautological, the word 'reason' can be used with prepositions 'with,' 'for,' and 'of.' Note that the phrase 'reason of' should be used only in the context of the formal expression 'for reasons of.'
Understanding the difference between 'reason' and 'why' can help you communicate more effectively and avoid using redundant phrases.
