a partial cause

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a partial cause" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing factors that contribute to an outcome but are not the sole reason for it. Example: "The heavy rainfall was a partial cause of the flooding in the area, along with the poor drainage system."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

23 human-written examples

A partial cause of Hildebrand's death was his unfortunate time slot.

The Guardian

Some analysts have suggested that TV viewing via the Internet is a partial cause of the channel's declines.

The New York Times

Many economists consider the rial's problems at least a partial cause of Iran's inflation, which is officially around 30 percent but widely believed to be far higher.

The New York Times

In a speech to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (Aipac) in Washington on Monday the hawkish Republican senator John McCain said the "feckless foreign policy" of the Obama administration was a partial cause of events in Ukraine.

The Guardian

Recalling the dispute over Catalan autonomy that was a partial cause of the Spanish Civil War in the 1930's, Lt. Gen. José Mena Aguado, 63, said Friday that history appeared to be repeating itself as the nation debated Catalonia's recent requests for more self-government, and that the military was ready to act.

The New York Times

It is that economic collapse, and the not-so-coincidental collapse of these families, that suggest at least a partial cause of prostitution today: single moms who couldn't get through high school, and who didn't have a clue how to raise the children born to them before they were out of their teens.

The New York Times - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

37 human-written examples

In this context, a social determinant of health is a socially controllable factor outside the traditional health care system that is an independent partial cause of an individual's health status.

SEP

As a result of their warming effects when relatively thin, cirrus clouds have been implicated as a potential partial cause of global warming.

Wikipedia

The OxyContin case arose from a four-year investigation into the marketing of a powerful drug that was, according to federal drug officials, a direct or partial cause of 146 deaths in 2000 and 2001 and possibly in 318 others during that period.

The Washington Post

If all possible within-even pairs are encoded, a partial cue can cause retrieval of all within-event elements (regardless of whether they are being tested or not).

Current Biology

As TechCrunch reported in 2012, a Steve Jobs comment gave partial cause for the class-action suit.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a partial cause", ensure you acknowledge other contributing factors to provide a balanced and accurate representation of the situation. For instance, instead of saying "The economic downturn was a partial cause of the company's failure", consider: "The economic downturn was a partial cause of the company's failure, alongside internal management issues and increased competition."

Common error

Avoid presenting "a partial cause" as the sole or primary reason for an outcome. Doing so can mislead readers and oversimplify complex relationships. Always acknowledge other relevant influences.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a partial cause" functions as a noun phrase that identifies something contributing to an event or situation without being the sole factor. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is correct and usable in written English. It serves to qualify the extent of influence.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

36%

Wiki

12%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

4%

Academia

4%

Formal & Business

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a partial cause" is a grammatically correct and usable English phrase, as validated by Ludwig AI. It indicates that something contributes to an outcome without being the sole factor. Its use is relatively uncommon but appears across diverse contexts, including news, science, and encyclopedic entries. When writing, it's important to avoid overstating the significance of a partial cause and always acknowledge other contributing factors for accuracy and balance. Alternatives like "a contributing factor" or "a contributing cause" can be used to convey a similar meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a contributing factor

Emphasizes the role of something as one of several elements leading to a result, without specifying degree of influence.

a contributing cause

Directly highlights the causal relationship, implying a significant impact alongside other causes.

played a role in

Highlights the action or function of something in bringing about a particular result.

was partly responsible for

Assigns some degree of accountability or causation to something.

one factor among others

Downplays the individual importance by positioning it as part of a larger set of influences.

an element in

Suggests being a component or ingredient within a broader context or situation.

had a hand in

Suggests active involvement or influence, often implying intentional participation.

implicated in

Implies involvement or connection, often in a negative or problematic context.

a piece of the puzzle

Implies that something contributes to the understanding of a larger, more complex situation.

was instrumental in

Emphasizes the importance or necessity of something in achieving a specific outcome.

FAQs

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

Use "a partial cause" when you want to indicate that something contributed to an event or situation, but was not the only reason. For example: "The lack of funding was "a partial cause" of the project's delay."

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

Alternatives include "a contributing factor", "a contributing cause", or "one factor among others", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "a partial cause" or "the partial cause"?

"A partial cause" is generally more appropriate because it implies there are other causes. "The partial cause" suggests that it is the only partial cause, which might not be accurate.

What's the difference between "a partial cause" and "the main reason"?

"A partial cause" indicates one of several contributing factors, while "the main reason" suggests the most significant factor. If something is only contributing, use "a partial cause"; if it's the primary driver, use "the main reason".