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Confusables Entry 1013 / 1350 60-second read

Rational vs. Rationale

Logical (adjective) versus the reasoning (noun).

The comparisoni

✗ Wrong

Give me the rational for this decision.

✓ Correct

Give me the rationale for this decision.

The ruleii

RATIONAL = adjective. RATIONALE = noun.

RATIONAL is an adjective meaning reasonable or logical. RATIONALE is a noun meaning the reasoning behind something. The trailing -E turns the describer into the thing described.

Memory aidiii

Remember it like this

RationalE has an extra E = the Explanation.

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