a very common cause

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a very common cause" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing a frequent reason or factor contributing to a particular situation or outcome. Example: "Stress is a very common cause of headaches among adults."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

23 human-written examples

"Regardless of how many resources you have and the best medical care, MRSA is a very common cause of skin infection".

The New York Times

Fatigue is, and most surely always will be, a very common cause of failure in industrial machinery such as pumps.

World Pumps

Data synthesis: Spondylolysis is a very common cause of low back pain, and is characterized by the presence of a fatigue fracture of the pars interarticularis region of the vertebra.

Physical Therapy in Sport

Cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) rupture is a very common cause of pelvic limb lameness in dogs.

BMC Veterinary Research

10 This is especially important in DM patients, as DM is a very common cause of chronic kidney disease.

Diabetes, Metabolic Syndrome and Obesity: Targets and Therapy

Sepsis results from a wide spectrum of infectious agents and is a very common cause of death and disability worldwide.

Clinical Epidemiology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

37 human-written examples

Penetrating trauma, by gunshot or stab wound, is other very common cause [34, 35].

Critical Ultrasound Journal

Stroke and traumatic brain injury (TBI) are two very common causes of death and disability worldwide and create a significant economic and social burden [ 15- 17].

Critical Care

However, excessive speeds on these roads are very common, causing traffic safety problems and threatening the liveability of neighbourhoods.

IATSS Research

"Since those are very common causes of stress, there's value in that".

Huffington Post

Communication failures are very common causes of errors and harm in medicine [ 1].

Critical Care

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "a very common cause", ensure it is followed by a specific and clearly defined outcome or condition to avoid ambiguity. For example, "Stress is a very common cause of headaches."

Common error

Avoid using "a very common cause" without providing sufficient context or specificity. Saying "It's a very common cause" without explaining what 'it' is or what it causes leaves the reader uninformed and the sentence meaningless.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a very common cause" functions as a nominal phrase that identifies something as a frequent reason or origin of a particular situation, condition, or event. It introduces a causal relationship, highlighting the prevalence of the identified cause, as shown in Ludwig examples.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

63%

Wiki

17%

News & Media

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a very common cause" is a grammatically correct and frequently used expression to denote a frequent factor contributing to a particular outcome. Ludwig's analysis of numerous examples reveals its presence across diverse contexts, primarily in scientific, news, and wiki sources. The phrase serves to inform and explain frequent causal relationships. While generally neutral, its formality can vary based on the context. To maximize clarity, it's important to follow it with a specific and well-defined outcome. Avoiding overgeneralization ensures the phrase remains informative and impactful. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase is appropriate for use in written English.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a prevalent reason

Replaces "very common" with "prevalent," indicating widespread occurrence but with a slightly more formal tone.

a commonplace factor

Replaces "very common" with "commonplace," suggesting that something is ordinary and unremarkable.

a frequent factor

Substitutes "cause" with "factor," broadening the scope to contributing elements rather than direct origins.

a widespread contributor

Combines the idea of widespread occurrence with the role of contributing to a situation or outcome.

a typical source

Replaces "cause" with "source," shifting the focus to the origin or provider of something.

a major determinant

Emphasizes the significant influence or role of something in shaping an outcome.

a primary driver

Highlights that something is a leading force or influence behind an event or trend.

a routine trigger

Implies that the "cause" is something that regularly initiates a particular event or reaction.

a standard explanation

Focuses on the idea that something is a typical or accepted reason for something else.

a usual suspect

Uses a more informal, idiomatic expression to indicate something is commonly identified as the reason or cause.

FAQs

How can I use "a very common cause" in a sentence?

Use "a very common cause" to introduce something that frequently leads to a particular result. For example, "Lack of sleep is "a very common cause" of fatigue".

What are some alternatives to "a very common cause"?

Alternatives include phrases like "a frequent factor", "a prevalent reason", or "a typical source", depending on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "common cause" or "a very common cause"?

Both are grammatically correct, but "a very common cause" emphasizes the frequency or prevalence of the cause more strongly than simply "common cause". The choice depends on the degree of emphasis you want to convey.

What's the difference between "a common cause" and ""a very common cause""?

"A common cause" indicates that something is one of several frequent reasons, while ""a very common cause"" suggests it's among the most frequent or prevalent reasons. The latter implies a higher degree of frequency.