a substantial cause of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a substantial cause of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing factors that significantly contribute to a particular outcome or effect. Example: "The researchers concluded that pollution is a substantial cause of climate change."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The court also finds that the state's actions are a substantial cause of this constitutional violation.

The New York Times

Never before can I recall the police being alleged to be a substantial cause of mass deaths.

The Guardian - Sport

Inherited diseases caused by unstable repeated DNA sequences are rare, but together represent a substantial cause of morbidity.

The Lancet Neurology

L. 98 120, § 3(a)(1), substituted "contributed importantly to such total or partial separation, or threat thereof, and to such decline" for "were a substantial cause of such total or partial separation, or threat thereof, and of such decline".

Cornell University

Background: Enteric adenoviruses, i.e. adenovirus 40 (and0) adenovirusirus 41 (Ad41), have been shown to be a substantial cause of pediatric gastroenteritis in various parts of the world, but no data are available for Iran.

Journal of Clinical Virology

In the outline of submissions filed on behalf of the minister, the Australian government solicitor explains that the minister did not think the burning of the coal "would be a substantial cause of climate change effects" and would have "no impact on matters of national environmental significance".

The Guardian

When enough of them moved out, or fell on hard times, it was a substantial cause of a series of municipal bankruptcies – as a result of which a number of Californian cities are no longer able to pay the pensions of former state employees.

The Guardian

(Belair, supra, 47 Cal .3dat p. 565). If the public entity's conduct is unreasonable and a substantial cause of damage, the entity "is liable only for the proportionate amount of damage caused by its actions". (Locklin, supra, 7 Cal .4that p. 368). This inverse condemnation rule invokes constitutional balancing principles and is not governed by tort concepts of fault or negligence.

Stanford University

Therefore, when a public flood control improvement designed to divert or rechannel potentially dangerous water flow is a substantial cause of property damage, courts must balance " 'public need against the gravity of private harm' " in determining whether to compensate the landowners for that damage.

Stanford University

The Trade Agenda also asserts that the Trump Administration will rely on Section 201 of the Trade Act of 1974, which permits the imposition of "safeguards" (i.e., tariffs or quotas on imports) when the U.S. International Trade Commission finds that increasing imports are a substantial cause of serious injury to domestic industry.

Columbia University

The ITC, after considering the petition, ruled 4-0 Frinay in favor of the two companies, finding that solar cells "are being imported into the United States in such increased quantities as to be a substantial cause of serious injury to the domestic industry". The commission will now weigh what remedy to suggest.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a substantial cause of", ensure that the context clearly indicates the effect or outcome being caused. Quantify the impact whenever possible to strengthen the statement.

Common error

Avoid using "a substantial cause of" when the evidence only supports a correlation or a minor contributing factor. Ensure the cause is genuinely significant and well-supported.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a substantial cause of" functions as a noun phrase that identifies something as a significant contributor to a particular outcome or situation. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread use.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

48%

News & Media

27%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a substantial cause of" is a versatile expression used to denote a significant factor contributing to a specific outcome. As evidenced by Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically sound and commonly employed across varied domains including science, news, and academia. While alternatives such as "a major factor in" or "a significant contributor to" exist, choosing the most suitable alternative relies heavily on the intended nuance and context. It's important to avoid overstating causation and to always provide context to clearly indicate the result being discussed. To make your writing clear, quantify whenever possible to strengthen the statement and provide additional context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a considerable cause of

Replaces "substantial" with "considerable", implying a significant but potentially less impactful cause.

a significant factor in

Shifts from "cause" to "factor", suggesting a contributing element rather than the sole driver.

a major contributor to

Emphasizes the contributing aspect of the cause, highlighting its role in bringing about the outcome.

a primary driver of

Presents the cause as the main force behind the effect, indicating a strong influence.

a key reason for

Focuses on the rationale behind the outcome, framing the cause as the central explanation.

largely responsible for

Highlights the accountability aspect, suggesting the cause bears significant responsibility for the effect.

a notable determinant of

Emphasizes the cause's role in shaping or deciding the outcome, suggesting a significant impact.

a powerful influence on

Highlights the strength and effect of the cause.

instrumental in

Indicates that the cause was essential and played a crucial part in making something happen.

a critical component of

Suggests the cause is a necessary element for the final result.

FAQs

How can I use "a substantial cause of" in a sentence?

Use "a substantial cause of" to indicate that something significantly contributes to a particular outcome. For example, "Pollution is "a substantial cause of" respiratory illnesses."

What are some alternatives to "a substantial cause of"?

You can use alternatives like "a major factor in", "a significant contributor to", or "a primary driver of" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "a substantial cause of" or "the main cause of"?

"A substantial cause of" suggests a significant but not necessarily exclusive cause, while "the main cause of" indicates the primary or most important cause. Choose the phrase that accurately reflects the situation.

Can "a substantial cause of" be used in formal writing?

Yes, "a substantial cause of" is appropriate for formal writing, especially in academic, scientific, and professional contexts where precise and accurate language is important.