a small cause

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a small cause" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a minor reason or factor that leads to a particular outcome or effect. Example: "The project's delay was attributed to a small cause that went unnoticed during the planning phase."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Something so horrible could not grow from a small cause.

The New York Times

"It's a small cause for optimism," he said by telephone, but "it's obviously still a fairly dire situation".

The New York Times

For example, to show how an event or decision affected a particular country, a group may choose to create a small cause and effect illustration, such as an image of the signing of the Oslo Accord leading to the winning of the Nobel Peace Prize by Mr. Arafat along with Shimon Peres and Yitzhak Rabin of Israel.

The New York Times

A small cause may have an enormous effect.

SEP

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

It was a small movement, & one that caused her no pain.

The New Yorker

Robert Dobias, climate change project chief at the Asian Development Bank, said that at present climate change is still a relatively small cause of migration, as economic causes loom largest and as environmental disasters happen independently of global warming.

The Guardian

Like a venture-capital firm, they are seeding a number of small causes in a style that has come to be called venture philanthropy.

Forbes

How much damage can a small meteor cause?

The Guardian

In this case, a small part, caused reversibly formed by the supply of energy ozone.

Wikipedia

Apart from a small proportion caused by severe immunosuppression, the cause of the majority of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHL) remains largely unknown.

British Journal of Cancer

The small cause was the high one.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a small cause", ensure the context clearly indicates that the effect or outcome is disproportionately large or significant relative to the cause. This creates emphasis and can be rhetorically effective.

Common error

Avoid attributing major outcomes solely to "a small cause" without acknowledging other contributing factors. Doing so can oversimplify complex situations and weaken your argument. Always provide context and acknowledge other influences when discussing causal relationships.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a small cause" functions primarily as a noun phrase. It typically acts as a subject or object in a sentence, referring to a minor or seemingly insignificant reason or factor that leads to a particular outcome or effect. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is valid and applicable in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a small cause" is a grammatically sound and usable phrase in English, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. It describes a minor factor leading to a more significant outcome, often emphasizing the disproportionate nature of the relationship. While not exceedingly common, it appears across various contexts, including News & Media, Science and Wiki. To enhance your writing, ensure that other contributing factors are acknowledged when using this phrase, preventing oversimplification. Consider using alternative phrases like "a minor factor" or "a slight reason" for subtle variations in meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a minor factor

Replaces 'cause' with 'factor', focusing on the element contributing to a result; emphasizes the limited impact.

a slight reason

Substitutes 'small' with 'slight', and 'cause' with 'reason', underscoring the rationale behind something.

a trivial trigger

Emphasizes the minimal importance of the initiating event using 'trivial' instead of 'small' and 'trigger' instead of 'cause'.

an insignificant impetus

Uses 'insignificant' to highlight the unimportance and 'impetus' to focus on the initial driving force.

a negligible instigator

Replaces 'small' with 'negligible' emphasizing the minute impact and 'cause' with 'instigator', pointing to the originator.

a minimal contribution

Focuses on the slight part played using 'minimal' instead of small and 'contribution' instead of 'cause'.

a subtle catalyst

Highlights the indirect role using 'subtle' to emphasize the understated nature and 'catalyst' instead of 'cause'.

a secondary effect

Shifts focus to something indirectly produced using 'secondary effect' and highlighting lower degree of importance.

a limited determinant

Uses 'limited' for a restricted scope and 'determinant' for a decisive factor, altering the original phrasing.

a faint origin

Underscores the obscurity by swapping 'small' with 'faint' and 'cause' with 'origin'.

FAQs

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

Use "a small cause" to introduce a seemingly insignificant factor that leads to a notable consequence. For example, "The unexpected success of the project was attributed to "a small cause" that was initially overlooked."

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

You can use phrases like "a minor factor", "a slight reason", or "a trivial trigger" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it grammatically correct to use "a small cause"?

Yes, "a small cause" is grammatically correct and commonly used to describe a minor reason or initiating factor. It adheres to standard English grammar rules.

What is the difference between "a small cause" and "the main cause"?

"A small cause" refers to a minor or seemingly insignificant reason, while "the main cause" signifies the primary or most important reason. Using "a small cause" suggests the impact is disproportionate to the apparent importance of the cause.