as a main cause

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "as a main cause" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when identifying a primary reason or factor contributing to a particular outcome or situation. Example: "The researchers concluded that climate change was identified as a main cause of the recent extreme weather patterns."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

52 human-written examples

On Sunday, Venezuela joined Iraq in dismissing production levels as a main cause of high prices and instead attributed them in large part to the war in Iraq.

The New York Times

It seeks to place new controls and transparency on derivatives, the complex financial transactions that were blamed as a main cause of the economic collapse.

The New York Times

The debts of these conglomerates have been cited as a main cause of the financial crisis and the recession that followed.

The New York Times

The proliferation of machinery such as fancy scanners, once applauded, is now criticised as a main cause of runaway health costs.

The Economist

Having survived broken heart syndrome ("The Claim: Grief Can Cause a Heart Attack," Really?, Jan . 10, I think it is limiting not to include the death of a relationship as a main cause.

The New York Times - Health

"We drove all the way from Manhattan," one said; another, held by a couple, read: "1st time at a Jays game, Go Jays Go!" "I usually go to two games a season, but this year this is already my fifth game," Toronto resident Emily Burns said, citing the "better atmosphere" as a main cause.

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

5 human-written examples

Deaths due to breast cancer were classified as patients with a main cause of death coded by the Scottish Cancer Registry as ICD-9 codes 174.1 to 174.9 or ICD-10 codes C50.1 to C50.9.

British Medical Journal

As inflammation is a main cause for symptoms in bacterial STDs, we look into how the CpG properties of these pathogens can explain differences in symptoms and outcomes of bacterial STDs, including: Haemophilus ducreyi, Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Treponema pallidum, and Mycoplasma genitalium.

BMC Infectious Diseases

As ROS are a main cause of DNA damage (Kryston et al, 2011), their presence may also account for the increased DNA damage observed in tumour cells from co-treated cultures/animals, resulting in more effective activation of cell death pathways.

EMBO Molecular Medicine

As metabolism is considered a main cause for adverse drug reactions and failures of new drug candidates, our goal is to establish an in silico method to efficiently predict phase II metabolism – in particular sulfotransferase (SULT) activity.

Journal of Cheminformatics

This remarkably unstudied area of neonatal sepsis is paramount, as cardiac failure remains a main cause of death in this disease state.

Critical Care

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "as a main cause", ensure that other contributing factors are also acknowledged to provide a balanced perspective. Avoid oversimplifying complex situations by attributing them solely to one cause.

Common error

Avoid using "as a main cause" when there is insufficient evidence to support a direct causal link. Ensure that the connection between the purported cause and effect is well-substantiated and not merely correlational.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "as a main cause" functions as a causal connector, linking a particular factor to its effect or outcome. Ludwig AI indicates its correct and usable status in written English, confirming its role in establishing causality.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

60%

News & Media

33%

Formal & Business

2%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "as a main cause" serves to highlight a primary factor contributing to a particular outcome. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability, demonstrating its prevalence across various domains, especially science and news media. While grammatically sound and widely accepted, it's crucial to avoid overstating causality and consider other contributing factors for a comprehensive understanding. Alternatives like "as a primary driver" or "as a key factor" can be used to express similar meanings, offering versatility in writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

as a primary driver

Replaces "cause" with "driver", emphasizing the impetus or force behind the effect.

as a key factor

Substitutes "main cause" with "key factor", highlighting its significance among other contributing elements.

as a principal reason

Uses "principal reason" instead of "main cause", underscoring the rationale or justification for something.

as a major contributor

Replaces "cause" with "contributor", signifying its role in contributing to the result.

as a central element

Substitutes "cause" with "element", focusing on its essential component within a larger system.

as a leading factor

Emphasizes its position as the foremost factor influencing the situation.

as the predominant reason

Highlights its prevalence and dominance as the reason behind the outcome.

as a crucial determinant

Presents it as a decisive factor in determining the result or outcome.

as an underlying factor

Highlights a less obvious, yet fundamental, factor contributing to the situation.

primarily due to

Indicates that the effect is mainly attributable to something.

FAQs

How can I use "as a main cause" in a sentence?

You can use "as a main cause" to identify a primary factor contributing to a specific outcome. For example, "The study identified deforestation as a main cause of soil erosion".

What are some alternatives to "as a main cause"?

You can use alternatives like "as a primary driver", "as a key factor", or "as a principal reason" to express a similar idea.

Is it appropriate to use "as a main cause" in formal writing?

Yes, "as a main cause" is appropriate for formal writing, particularly in academic and professional contexts where identifying causal relationships is essential. However, ensure that the analysis is thorough and well-supported.

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

"As a main cause" suggests a primary reason for something, while "as a contributing factor" implies that it's one of several reasons. The choice depends on the relative importance of the factor you're describing.