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line of reasoning

line of reasoning

8 4.2
A set of connected reasons that lead to a conclusion
  • noun
  • /laɪn əv ˈrizənɪŋ/
translation icon : razonamiento
  • In her essay, she clearly outlined her line of reasoning to support her argument.
  • Following this line of reasoning
  • line of reasoning suggests
  • pursue this line of reasoning

Can you can you set out your line of reasoning or evidence for me?

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Examples

  • The teacher asked the students to explain their line of reasoning in solving the math problem.

  • Judge Walker also followed a second, alternative line of reasoning to the same result.

    Academic text (2017)
  • Can you can you set out your line of reasoning or evidence for me?

  • And we're going to go through the exact same line of reasoning that we had last week.

  • The present findings call into question this line of reasoning by students.

    Academic text (2008)
  • I appreciated my parents' concern and knew well their line of reasoning.

    Fiction book (1994)
  • I have no objection to your line of reasoning as far as it goes.

    Blog text (14)
  • If the courts have not been able to follow a single line of reasoning, what are school administrators to do?

    Academic text (1991)
  • Several problems arise when attempting to bring an equal protection challenge under this line of reasoning.

    Academic text (2017)
  • That's an interesting line of reasoning.

Synonyms

argument
vsline of reasoning
2.5

A set of reasons people give to show something is true

is a sequence of logical steps rather than only a single statement
logic
vsline of reasoning
375 3.8

A set of reasons that explains why something was done or said

is a practical sequence of steps applying those principles to support claims
reasoning
vsline of reasoning
221 3.9

A way of thinking in a clear, logical order to form a conclusion

focuses on an outward sequence of steps used to support a claim
rationale
vsline of reasoning
79 6.0

A set of reasons that explains a decision or action

is an ordered progression of reasons rather than a simple explanatory set
argumentation
vsline of reasoning
  • Formal
8 5.7

To give reasons to support or oppose an idea

is the specific ordered steps to reach a conclusion not the whole discussion
logical argument
vsline of reasoning
4 4.3

A set of clear reasons that show why an idea is true or false

is a general sequence of steps used to support a claim

How Logical

sound logic
1 3.9
line of reasoning
8 4.2

Surface Forms

Morphology

line + of + reasoning

The phrase is fully compositional: 'line' as a sequence or train + 'of' linking + 'reasoning' meaning logical thought directly yields 'a sequence of logical steps', so a B1 learner who knows the parts can infer the meaning. This noun + of + noun pattern is common cross-linguistically (e.g., Spanish 'línea de razonamiento', French 'ligne de raisonnement'), which further supports immediate understandability.

Etymology

Line of reasoning comes from the image of ideas set one after another like a straight line, with each idea pushing the thinking forward, and the act of reasoning moving along it. That's why it means the connected steps someone uses 'to reach a conclusion'.