a severe cause

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a severe cause" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a significant or serious reason for a particular situation or outcome. Example: "The researchers identified a severe cause for the decline in bee populations, linking it to pesticide use."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Tertiary care hospitals in Latin America having transplantation, dialysis, cancer units or immunocompromised patients should recognize S. agalactiae as a severe cause of disease by monitoring and implementing policies to improve routinely detection, susceptibility testing and control.

BMC Infectious Diseases

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

In contrast to the OAK, the performance of the Flexible OAK does not recover immediately, indicating a more severe cause of the decreased reliability.

Journal of Cheminformatics

A more severe cause for the breeding deficiency of NHERF1 females appeared related to offspring survival after birth.

Cell Death and Disease

Ebola hemorrhagic fever (EHF) is a severe disease caused by several species of Ebolavirus (EBOV), in the family Filoviridae.

Emerging Infectious Diseases

On January 10 , 1935 a severe storm caused a landslide on Alcatraz, causing the Model Industries Building to slide.

Wikipedia

The index case was a newborn with a severe sepsis caused by MDR and COL sensitive A. baumannii.

BMC Infectious Diseases

"What was initially thought as dehydration caused by her riding to Rio has since been diagnosed as a severe complication caused by a bacterial infection.

The Guardian

A severe infection caused by runaway streptococcus bacteria, streptococcal septic shock, has made its own headlines as "flesh-eating bacteria".

The New York Times - Science

In 1998, a severe storm caused the death of six sailors, among them Jim Lawler, a friend of Fischer.

The New York Times - Sports

"Education budgets will face a severe squeeze, caused by lower domestic revenues and exacerbated by falling aid flows," says Lucia Fry, a policy adviser at the GCE.

The Guardian

Although IVF coupled to PGT can ensure that couples carrying a severe disease-causing mutation will not have an affected child, it doesn't always yield a baby.

Nature

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a severe cause", ensure the context clearly establishes what the cause is leading to. Providing specific details about the effect helps to emphasize the significance of the cause.

Common error

Avoid using "a severe cause" if the actual impact is only moderate or minor. Overusing strong language can weaken your argument and credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a severe cause" functions as a noun phrase, typically acting as a subject complement or object in a sentence. It identifies a significant or serious reason for a particular outcome. According to Ludwig, it's grammatically correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

35%

News & Media

35%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a severe cause" is used to describe a significant or serious reason behind an event or situation. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct, though its frequency is rare. It commonly appears in scientific and news-related contexts, emphasizing the gravity of the cause. When employing this phrase, be mindful of the impact of the cause and avoid overstating its severity if the consequences are not truly significant. Alternatives like "a serious reason" or "a major factor" can be considered for nuanced contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a serious reason

Replaces "severe" with "serious", maintaining the emphasis on the gravity of the cause.

a major factor

Shifts the focus to the importance of the cause, suggesting it is a key element.

a substantial reason

Similar to "serious reason", but with a slightly different nuance in emphasizing the weight of the cause.

a critical determinant

Emphasizes the decisive nature of the cause in influencing an outcome.

a significant contributor

Highlights the causal role of the factor in bringing about a result.

a primary driver

Suggests that the cause is a powerful force behind a particular phenomenon.

a key underlying factor

Focuses on the fundamental and important nature of the cause.

a considerable influence

Indicates that the cause has a notable impact on something.

a powerful motivator

Highlights the cause as something that strongly compels or drives action.

a root of the problem

Positions the cause as the fundamental source of an issue or difficulty.

FAQs

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

You can use "a severe cause" to describe a significant reason behind a particular event or condition. For example: "The researchers identified "a severe cause" for the sudden decline in the fish population."

What phrases are similar to "a severe cause"?

You can use alternatives like "a serious reason", "a major factor", or "a critical determinant" depending on the context.

Is it always necessary to use "severe" when describing a cause?

No, the use of "severe" depends on the intensity of the cause and its impact. If the cause is significant and has serious consequences, then using "severe" is appropriate. Otherwise, consider using a less emphatic term.

What are the implications of identifying "a severe cause"?

Identifying "a severe cause" often implies the need for immediate and substantial action to address the problem. It highlights the urgency and importance of finding a solution.