a culprit for

USAGE SUMMARY

Can you provide more context or a specific sentence to determine if "a culprit for" is appropriate? It is possible to use "a culprit for" in written English, but it may not be the most common or precise phrasing in all situations.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

21 human-written examples

Perhaps it is because it's not easy to find a culprit for the denial of economic rights.

The Guardian - Opinion

And, if you're looking for a culprit for this dismal state of affairs, many businesspeople would be happy to point you to the White House.

The New Yorker

In December , 2012 a month before the announcement, Esteche told Khalil that Kirchner's government intended to invent a culprit for the bombing.

The New Yorker

South Koreans consider it deeply unethical for senior government officials to engage in real-estate speculation, which is considered a culprit for pushing up housing prices.

The New York Times

There was a lot of other stuff going on and James Anderson was in the thick of it and is a culprit for it all happening.

The Guardian - Sport

Meanwhile, the FBI can't agree on a culprit for the attacks and Kevin McNally's General Harris Cochran decides the new president is a woolly whelp with no backbone and starts a plot to unseat him.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

36 human-written examples

Thus, dietary change is a logical candidate as a culprit responsible for the rise in allergic diseases.

BMC Pulmonary Medicine

The target vessel for imaging was required to have a segment of at least 30 mm in length with no lumen narrowing ≥50%, no previous revascularization performance, and not being considered a culprit vessel for a previous myocardial infarction.

Diabetes Care

New research points to an unexpected culprit for a constellation of symptoms similar to those experienced by people with so-called metabolic syndrome.

Science Magazine

Analysts have cited relatively high price — on top of a softening economy — as a major culprit for iPhones' low sales in China, which have prompted Apple to lower its quarterly revenue forecast for the first time in over a decade and Chinese retailers to slash iPhone prices.

TechCrunch

A possible culprit for the drop was a trader error in which someone entered a "b" for billion instead of an "m" for million in a trade.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a culprit for", ensure that the context clearly indicates what is being blamed or held responsible. For instance, "Climate change is a major culprit for increased extreme weather events" provides a clear connection.

Common error

Avoid using "a culprit for" when the link between the subject and the outcome is weak or speculative. Overstating causality can undermine credibility. Always ensure sufficient evidence supports the claim.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a culprit for" functions as a prepositional phrase, typically used to identify the agent or cause responsible for a particular negative situation or outcome. Ludwig examples show it connects a subject to a consequence, often implying blame or accountability.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a culprit for" serves to pinpoint the cause of a problem, generally implying a negative consequence. Ludwig AI analysis indicates that while grammatically sound, the phrase is not exceedingly common, appearing most frequently in news and media contexts. When using this phrase, ensure the connection between the subject and the outcome is well-supported and clear. Remember, alternative phrases like ""a cause of"" or ""responsible for"" can provide nuanced ways to express causality depending on the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a cause of

Focuses more directly on the reason behind an event or situation, rather than assigning blame.

a reason for

Highlights the explanation or justification for something, often more neutral than "culprit".

responsible for

Indicates accountability for an action or outcome, without necessarily implying wrongdoing.

to blame for

Directly assigns fault or responsibility for a negative event.

the origin of

Emphasizes the starting point or source of something, often used for abstract concepts.

the source of

Similar to "origin", but can also refer to the tangible cause of a problem.

accountable for

Highlights the obligation to answer for the results of an action.

the agent of

Implies direct action leading to a specific result, often used in scientific or formal contexts.

the instigator of

Suggests someone or something that initiates an event or action, often with negative connotations.

the determinant of

Emphasizes the factor that decisively affects or controls an outcome.

FAQs

How can I use "a culprit for" in a sentence?

Use "a culprit for" to identify the cause or source of a problem or negative situation. For example, "Lack of exercise is "a culprit for" many health issues."

What's a good alternative to "a culprit for"?

Depending on the context, you could use "a cause of", "responsible for", or "to blame for" as alternatives.

Is it always negative when using "a culprit for"?

Yes, "a culprit for" generally implies that the identified subject is responsible for something undesirable. If you're describing a neutral or positive situation, other phrases like "a factor in" might be more suitable.

What's the difference between "a cause of" and "a culprit for"?

"A cause of" is a more general term for something that produces an effect, while "a culprit for" specifically implies responsibility for a negative outcome. "A cause of" can be neutral, whereas "a culprit for" is almost always negative.