are thought to cause

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "are thought to cause" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing beliefs or opinions about the effects or consequences of something, often in a scientific or analytical context. Example: "Certain chemicals are thought to cause adverse health effects when exposed over long periods."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Persistently low levels of it are thought to cause depression.

The Economist

Particulates in the air pollution are thought to cause inflammation that exacerbate underlying disease.

The Guardian

Buildings produce half of all greenhouse gases, the chemicals that are thought to cause global warming.

The New York Times - Arts

The "jinn" (evil spirits) in Oman are thought to cause convulsions.

The New York Times - Science

Genetic, or hereditary, factors are thought to cause more than 50 percent of all hearing loss.

The New York Times

Side-branch (SB) IPMNs are thought to cause symptoms less frequently, and their association with pancreatitis is not well defined.

Gastrointestinal Endoscopy

Of these, FcaPV-2 and -3 are thought to cause feline viral plaques and Bowenoid in situ carcinomas.

Veterinary Microbiology

Fluctuations in estrogen (E2) and progesterone (P4) levels during the ovarian cycle are thought to cause uterine resistance artery vasodilation; the effects on large arteries are unknown.

European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology

Lowering homocysteine doesn't mean much unless those reduced levels translate into reduced risk for the problems that elevated levels are thought to cause.

Harvard University

The misfolded proteins called "prions" that are thought to cause mad cow disease are one well-known example of harmful biomolecules, Graves says.

University of California, Berkeley

Two effects are thought to cause this problem.

The Journal of Chinese Sociology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "are thought to cause", ensure that the statement reflects a consensus or a widely held belief within a specific field, rather than an individual opinion.

Common error

Avoid using "are thought to cause" when there's substantial evidence proving a direct causal link. In such cases, stronger phrasing like "are known to cause" would be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "are thought to cause" functions as a causal verb phrase, indicating a perceived or hypothesized cause-and-effect relationship. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread use.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

56%

News & Media

28%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

1%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "are thought to cause" is a grammatically sound and widely used expression to indicate a perceived causal relationship without definitive proof. Ludwig AI analysis confirms its correctness and prevalence across various contexts, particularly in scientific and news media. While generally neutral, leaning towards formal, it's crucial to be mindful of the level of certainty implied and consider alternatives like "are believed to cause" or "are suspected to cause" to align with the available evidence. Remember to ensure the statement reflects a consensus or widely held belief, rather than an individual opinion, and avoid overstating causality when stronger evidence exists.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

are believed to cause

Replaces "thought" with "believed", indicating a stronger conviction or acceptance of the causal relationship.

are considered to cause

Substitutes "thought" with "considered", suggesting a more formal or deliberative assessment.

are known to cause

Replaces "thought" with "known", implying a higher degree of certainty based on evidence.

are understood to cause

Similar to "are known to cause", but emphasizes comprehension and acceptance within a field.

are suggested to cause

Indicates a weaker causal link, where the relationship is proposed but not definitively proven.

are suspected to cause

Implies a tentative or speculative connection between two things.

are presumed to cause

Indicates a belief based on probability or likelihood, without concrete evidence.

are posited to cause

Suggests a more formal or theoretical proposition of a causal link.

are hypothesized to cause

Emphasizes the scientific or investigative nature of the causal relationship.

may cause

Uses "may" to express possibility rather than a firm belief or understanding.

FAQs

How can I use "are thought to cause" in a sentence?

Use "are thought to cause" to express a widely held, but not definitively proven, belief about a cause-and-effect relationship. For example, "High levels of stress "are thought to cause" sleep disturbances."

What can I say instead of "are thought to cause"?

You can use alternatives like "are believed to cause", "are considered to cause", or "are suspected to cause" depending on the level of certainty you want to convey.

When is it appropriate to use "are thought to cause" instead of "are known to cause"?

"Are thought to cause" is suitable when there is a prevailing belief but not conclusive evidence. "Are known to cause" should be used when there is strong, proven evidence of a direct causal relationship.

Is "are thought to cause" formal or informal?

The phrase ""are thought to cause"" is appropriate in both formal and informal contexts, but is often used in more analytical and scientific writing to indicate a degree of uncertainty.