The use of "rationale" and "principle" with prepositions How do you differently and academically use the combination of the nouns, 'rationale' and 'principle' with prepositions below? rationale of rationale for rationale behind principle of principle behind Are there different meanings between them? Here are some examples that I found. [principle] With changes in care leading to increasing patient dependency, the abilities required from nurses have also increased (McNee et al 2005). At the same time, "the principle of family-centred care" (Brimble 2008) has required the development of a holistic approach to clinical skills teaching (McNee et al 2005). An evaluation of observed structural clinical examinations. Paediatric Nursing (2010) Pasted from <http://corpus.byu.edu/coca/x4.asp?t=4088772&ID=652849298>; I thought "the principle behind the civil rights movement" was that discrimination on the basis of race was wrong. It appears that under the left-liberal logic the new principle is that nondiscrimination is discrimination and discrimination is nondiscrimination, as long as one is discriminating on behalf of the right people as determined by the ACLU. EDITORIAL; Pg. A22; LETTERS TO THE EDITOR, LETTERS TO THE EDITOR; San Francisco Chronicle Pasted from <http://corpus.byu.edu/coca/x4.asp?t=3048438&ID=246600278>; "A guiding principle for any imaging procedure," regardless of age, is that radiation should be limited -- or'' coned' -- to the area being examined. X-Rays and Unshielded Infants, NYT (2011) Pasted from <http://corpus.byu.edu/coca/x4.asp?t=4090489&ID=654004950>; [Rationale] "It is difficult to discern 'a credible rationale for keeping this medication' on the market," they wrote. Seattle Times Sep 1, 2010 Pasted from <http://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/rationale>; What was "the rationale behind his decision" to quit? You add extra baking soda to pancake batter "under the rationale" that if you want them to be fluffier, you need more rising agent. Vocabulary.com What I understood about the prepositions were; 1. "behind" will be talked about the 'background information' of the "principle" or " rationale". 2. "for" will indicate that the reason of "principle" or "rationale" is going to be talked in the sentence. 3. "of" will be explained of what the "principle" or "rationale" in the sentence. If I am wrong, please correct my understanding. Here is one more question about these words. How differently do you use these "rationale" and "principle"? These looks like synonymous. Does this mean these words are interchangeable in the sentences above? [Correction] In #2 I added a "purpose". What I understood about the prepositions were; 1. "behind" will be talked about the 'background information' of the "principle" or " rationale". 2. "for" will indicate that the reason or purpose of "principle" or "rationale" is going to be talked in the sentence. 3. "of" will be explained of what the "principle" or "rationale" in the sentence. If I am wrong, please correct my understanding.