What Does "on the grounds that" Mean?
- Grammatical function: This expression serves as a compound conjunction that introduces a causal relationship. Specifically, it provides a justification, reason, or legal basis for an action or decision.
- Typical sentence position: It is most commonly found in the medial position (connecting two clauses) or the final position. While it can appear in the initial position for stylistic emphasis, this is less frequent.
- Register: This is a formal expression. It is frequently used in legal, academic, journalistic, and professional contexts to signal a reasoned argument rather than a simple cause.
How to Use It
- Syntactic patterns: The phrase is a fixed idiom followed by a full clause (subject + verb). It acts as a bridge between a result and the underlying reason.
- Punctuation rules: When used in the middle of a sentence, it is often preceded by a comma if the preceding clause is independent or if the justification is provided as non-essential information. If it starts the sentence, the entire introductory clause should be followed by a comma.
- Grammatical flexibility: It is relatively fixed. While the clause it introduces can be negated, the phrase itself is rarely modified. It can occasionally be moved to the start of a sentence to emphasize the reason over the action.
- What sounds unnatural: Using it in casual conversation (e.g., "I didn't go to the party on the grounds that I was tired") sounds overly stiff. Additionally, following it with a simple noun phrase instead of a clause is grammatically incorrect.
Real-World Examples
These examples are sourced from on the grounds that on Ludwig.guru.
"Texas rejected an application to issue one on the grounds that it could offend some." — theguardian.com
"Coulson resigned on the grounds that he carried ultimate responsibility." — theguardian.com
"Pedro Hernandez's lawyer plans to challenge the confession on the grounds that he is mentally ill." — nytimes.com
"Conservatives have long opposed a VAT on the grounds that it makes raising revenue too easy." — economist.com
"The city tried to have the complaint dismissed on the grounds that Mr. Jackson was loitering." — nytimes.com
Similar Phrases and Alternatives
| Phrase |
Context |
| because |
Neutral and versatile; used in both formal and informal speech. |
| since |
Slightly more formal than because; often assumes the reason is already known. |
| on the basis that |
Highly formal; almost synonymous with "on the grounds that" in logic. |
| inasmuch as |
Very formal/archaic; used to explain the extent to which something is true. |
| owing to the fact that |
Formal and wordy; emphasizes a specific cause or obstacle. |
| given that |
Neutral to formal; introduces a premise or a factor taken into account. |
Common Mistakes
- Singular vs. Plural: Learners often mistakenly use the singular "on the ground that," but the idiom requires the plural grounds to denote reasons or justifications.
- Prepositional confusion: It is a common error to write "on the grounds of that" or "on the grounds of"; remember that on the grounds that must be followed by a clause, whereas "on the grounds of" is followed by a noun phrase.
- Register Mismatch: Using this phrase in a text message or casual email can make the writer seem unintentionally cold or overly litigious.
Quick-Reference Summary
| Expression |
Function |
Register |
Typical Position |
| on the grounds that |
Causal Justification |
Formal |
Medial / Final |
FAQs
Can this expression be used at the beginning of a sentence
Yes, on the grounds that can appear in the sentence-initial position to place immediate emphasis on the justification. When used this way, the entire introductory clause must be separated from the main clause by a comma. For example: "On the grounds that the evidence was tainted, the judge dismissed the case."
How does this phrase differ from because
While both express cause, on the grounds that is significantly more formal and implies a structured, logical, or legal justification. Unlike because, which is used for any general reason, this expression is specifically reserved for official reasons or formal arguments.
Is it correct to say on the ground that or on the grounds of that
No, these are common errors; you must use the fixed plural form on the grounds that followed by a clause. Learners should avoid using the singular on the ground or adding the extra preposition of before the word "that," as these forms are non-standard in English.