a contributing cause

USAGE SUMMARY

"a contributing cause" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when discussing factors that lead to a particular outcome or event. For example, "Poor diet was identified as a contributing cause of the health issues." Alternative expressions include "a contributing factor" and "a contributing element."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Why, then, are so many fingers pointed at fighting as a contributing cause?

The New York Times - Sports

The board said a contributing cause of the accident was the driver's unfamiliarity with the bus.

The New York Times

The Court’s imprudent ruling will have been a contributing cause to this injustice.

Cornell University

Others, like Siebel Systems and PeopleSoft, which sell expensive software to corporate customers, cited the war as a contributing cause.

The New York Times

I don't know whether it is a contributing cause to my love of blue things, or an effect.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Biomechanical strategies to decelerate the body in the vertical direction have been implicated as a contributing cause.

Clinical Biomechanics

The coroner ruled that Mr. Bogenberger's cause of death was cardiac arrhythmia, with alcohol intoxication as a contributing cause.

The New York Times

One of his lawyers, Joseph Low IV, said Mr. Jackson's health may have been a contributing cause of his death.

The New York Times

Virtually all of the academic and government studies of the fiscal crisis have concluded that shareholder pressure was a contributing cause.

Columbia University

To investigate whether renal vasculitis is the sole cause or merely a contributing cause of renal inflammation in Kawasaki disease (KD).

The Journal of Pediatrics

Since its introduction in the United States in the 1960s, artificial playing surfaces have been implicated as a contributing cause to ACL injuries.

The Anterior Cruciate Ligament

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a contributing cause", ensure you also acknowledge other potential causes to provide a balanced perspective.

Common error

Avoid presenting "a contributing cause" as the sole reason for an outcome. Always acknowledge other factors that might be involved.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a contributing cause" functions as a noun phrase that identifies one of several factors responsible for a particular outcome. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is correct and usable in written English, highlighting its role in causal explanations.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Academia

23%

Less common in

Wiki

6%

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a contributing cause" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase to denote one of several factors leading to a particular outcome. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. It's prevalent across diverse contexts, including news, science, and academia, although less common in encyclopedias and formal business settings. When employing this phrase, it's essential to acknowledge other potential factors to avoid overstating its significance. Alternatives like "a contributing factor" and "a partial cause" offer subtle variations in meaning, allowing for more precise communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a contributing factor

Replaces "cause" with "factor", emphasizing influence rather than direct causation.

a causal factor

Emphasizes the factor's role in causation.

a contributory element

Uses "element" to describe the role of the cause.

a partial cause

Highlights that the cause is not the only one, but one among several.

a contributing influence

Substitutes "cause" with "influence", focusing on the effect.

a secondary cause

Indicates that the cause is less important than the primary cause.

an underlying cause

Suggests a less obvious, but still important, cause.

a determinant factor

Indicates that the factor helps to determine the outcome.

a precipitating factor

Highlights the factor that triggered the event.

a causative agent

Uses a more formal tone to describe the cause.

FAQs

How can I use "a contributing cause" in a sentence?

You can use "a contributing cause" to indicate one of several factors that led to a specific outcome. For example, "Stress was "a contributing cause" of his illness".

What are some alternatives to saying "a contributing cause"?

You can use alternatives like "a contributing factor", "a partial cause", or "a secondary cause depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "the contributing cause" instead of "a contributing cause"?

While "a contributing cause" indicates one of several causes, "the contributing cause" suggests it's the primary or most significant one. Choose the article that best reflects the relative importance of the cause you're describing.

What's the difference between "a contributing cause" and "a root cause"?

"A root cause" is the fundamental reason for an event, while "a contributing cause" is one of the factors that influenced the outcome. "A root cause" is the underlying factor that, if removed, would prevent the issue from recurring.