a whole cause

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a whole cause" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a complete or entire reason or justification for something. Example: "The environmental impact of the project was a whole cause for concern among the community members."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

But this is not to say school incentive schemes as a whole cause no behavioural change.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

argued that rising inequality was bad for the economy as a whole, causing less affluent households to spend more than their income and rely on borrowing to an unhealthy degree.

The New York Times

Moreover, economic growth as a whole causes environmental degradation both in the short and long-run; therefore, there is still need to mitigate carbon emission in industrial sectors and to adopt adaptation strategies in vulnerable areas to minimize the short-run and long-run damages.

Energy, Sustainability and Society

Although the P. syringae species as a whole causes plant diseases on a multitude of agriculturally important plant species, individual P. syringae strains typically exhibit a very high degree of host specificity, infecting only a few plant species or even a few genotypes of a single species [5], [6].

Plosone

Some countries think that the whole cause is a disguise for Western meddling and hypocrisy.

The Economist

As a symptom, if not the whole cause, of England's struggle to rediscover their World Cup-winning rhythm, Greenwood's drought is a prime case study.

The Guardian - Sport

Virgin Atlantic has already voiced its objections and could well be forced to look to alliances of its own, possibly with the likes of Singapore Airlines and bmi.Meanwhile this week's Economist reports on an upswing in the mood of the airline industry as a whole:The cause of the change in sentiment is hardly a mystery.

The Economist

If this very basic measurement of Polaris's distance were to remain in dispute, it would arguably cast doubt on the cosmological distance scale as a whole, and cause astronomers to wonder about the reliability of distance measurements for much of Hipparcos's 120,000 star catalogue.

Science Magazine

This situation as a whole can cause occupational stress [ 5].

Human Resources for Health

It is certainly not the whole cause.

The Economist

Actually, I figured out the whole "cause" aspect afterwards.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a whole cause" when you want to emphasize that the reason you are presenting is complete and encompasses all relevant aspects. It suggests a comprehensive understanding of the rationale behind something.

Common error

Avoid using "a whole cause" when a simpler term like "the main reason" would suffice. Overuse can make your writing sound unnecessarily verbose. Strive for clarity and conciseness.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a whole cause" functions as a noun phrase, acting as the subject complement or object in a sentence. It identifies the complete or comprehensive reason for something, as suggested by Ludwig's examples. It describes the entirety of motivation rather than just a portion.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

33%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a whole cause" is a grammatically correct but infrequent way to describe a complete or comprehensive reason for something. As supported by Ludwig, its usage is seen across news, science, and formal contexts, indicating a level of formality. While semantically sound, writers should be mindful of potentially more concise alternatives like "the primary driver" or "the entire reason" to avoid unnecessary verbosity. When employed, it should aim to signal the thoroughness of the explanation being offered.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

the entire reason

Focuses on the completeness of the reason, emphasizing that nothing is left out.

the complete grounds

Highlights the justification or basis for an action or belief being thorough.

the full motive

Emphasizes the underlying motivation behind an action, leaving no part of the motive unaddressed.

the primary driver

Indicates the main influencing factor or impetus behind an event or decision.

the principal explanation

Highlights that it is the main reason for something.

the key factor

Emphasizes the critical element that contributes to a particular outcome.

the mainspring

Suggests the essential motivating force.

the root cause

Points to the fundamental source or origin of a problem or situation.

the predominant factor

Emphasizes that the cause is the most influential among others.

the total explanation

Highlights the entirety of the explanation, ensuring nothing is omitted.

FAQs

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

You can use "a whole cause" to indicate that something is the complete and comprehensive reason for a particular outcome. For example: "The environmental impact of the project was "a whole cause" for concern among the community members."

What can I say instead of "a whole cause"?

You can use alternatives like "the entire reason", "the complete grounds", or "the primary driver" depending on the context.

Is "a whole cause" the same as "the whole cause"?

While similar, "a whole cause" implies a comprehensive reason, whereas "the whole cause" suggests the only reason. The article "a" broadens the scope to include any complete reason, while "the" narrows it to a specific one.

What's the difference between "a whole cause" and "a contributing factor"?

"A contributing factor" is one of possibly many reasons, while ""a whole cause"" suggests a complete or primary reason. The former implies partial influence, the latter implies a more significant or comprehensive role.