a set of causes

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a set of causes" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing multiple reasons or factors that contribute to a particular outcome or event. Example: "The study aimed to identify a set of causes for the increase in pollution levels in urban areas."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

And I know that throughout history the Nobel Peace Prize has not just been used to honor specific achievement; it's also been used as a means to give momentum to a set of causes.

The New Yorker

We advocate for including as broad a set of causes of illness as possible as both primary diagnoses and comorbidities.

Health Economics Review

When assessing it, it is therefore necessary to understand the fact that this is not an isolated step or a single decision, but a set of causes, influences and factors (including their mutual combinations) that make up the overall reliability.

Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences

Ms Kendall has also won the backing of former minister Pat McFadden, who said she best understood that "Labour wins when it gives a positive, hopeful, optimistic story of the country's future as well as just collecting a set of causes and grievances".

BBC

There is a set of causes and conditions that led them to their terrible behavior.

Huffington Post

[T]hroughout history, the Nobel Peace Prize has not just been used to honor specific achievement; it's also been used as a means to give momentum to a set of causes.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

Within a complete solution framework, we develop an heuristic procedure which is able, for unsatisfiable instances, to locate a set of clauses causing unsatisfiability.

Electronic Notes in Discrete Mathematics

The World Health Organization (WHO) has contributed substantially to this process in releasing the WHO 2012 verbal autopsy standard (3, 4), which sets out standard items for verbal autopsy interviews and defined a set of cause of death categories covering the International Classification of Diseases version 10 (ICD-10) (5).

Global Health Action

A set of component causes occurring together may complete the "pie", creating a sufficient cause and thus initiating the disease process.

Environmental Health: A Global Access Science Source

An arresting new prediction means that the expert has discovered a set of interlocking causes that no one else has spotted, and that could lead to an outcome that the conventional wisdom is ignoring.

The New Yorker

To explain Rome's greatness and decline, he invokes the notion of an esprit général ("general spirit"), a set of secondary causes underlying each society and determining its developments.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a set of causes", ensure that the causes you are referring to are distinct and contribute in a meaningful way to the outcome you are describing.

Common error

Avoid using "a set of causes" when you can identify specific causes. Being precise strengthens your writing. For instance, instead of stating "a set of causes led to the decline", specify the factors, such as "decreased funding, increased competition and outdated technology led to the decline".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a set of causes" functions as a noun phrase. It typically serves as the subject or object of a sentence, referring to a group or collection of factors that contribute to a particular outcome or event. Examples from Ludwig AI show its use in contexts ranging from identifying causes of accidents to understanding illness.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

40%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a set of causes" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression to denote multiple contributing factors to an event or outcome. While Ludwig AI indicates its frequency is uncommon, it appears in diverse contexts, particularly in science and news media. When using the phrase, ensure you're referring to distinct, meaningful factors and avoid overgeneralization by being as specific as possible. Consider alternatives like "a collection of reasons" or "multiple contributing factors" to add variety to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a collection of reasons

This alternative replaces 'set' with 'collection' and 'causes' with 'reasons', maintaining the meaning of multiple contributing factors.

a range of factors

Replaces 'set' with 'range' and 'causes' with 'factors', suggesting a variety of elements influencing an outcome.

multiple contributing factors

This phrase emphasizes that the factors actively contribute to a specific result.

several underlying reasons

Highlights that the reasons are fundamental and contribute to a particular situation.

a number of reasons

Replaces "set" with "number" and maintains "reasons", referring to multiple causes.

various contributing elements

This alternative emphasizes the diverse nature of the contributing factors.

a confluence of factors

Suggests that several factors come together to produce a specific outcome.

the root causes

This option pinpoints the main or fundamental causes of a situation.

the causal factors

Focuses specifically on the factors that directly influence an event or outcome.

the determinants

This alternative refers to the factors that decisively affect the nature or outcome of something.

FAQs

How can I use "a set of causes" in a sentence?

You can use "a set of causes" to refer to multiple reasons or factors that contribute to a particular outcome. For example, "The investigation revealed "a set of causes" for the accident".

What are some alternatives to "a set of causes"?

Some alternatives include "a collection of reasons", "multiple contributing factors", or "several underlying reasons". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it better to list the specific causes instead of using the general term "a set of causes"?

Whenever possible, listing the specific causes will provide clarity and strengthen your argument. However, if the causes are numerous or complex, using "a set of causes" can be a useful shorthand, provided you offer further explanation.

What's the difference between "a set of causes" and "a chain of events"?

"A set of causes" refers to multiple contributing factors, while "a chain of events" describes a sequence of occurrences where one event leads to another. While related, they emphasize different aspects of causation and consequence.