as a primary cause

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "as a primary cause" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing the main reason or factor contributing to a particular outcome or situation. Example: "The researchers concluded that pollution was identified as a primary cause of the decline in local wildlife populations."

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Among cities surveyed, 44percentt identified domestic violence as a primary cause of homelessness.

Cornell University

CO2 emission reduction is important as a primary cause of global warming.

Smart Energy Grid Engineering

Urbanization is often identified as a primary cause of species decline.

Landscape and Urban Planning

It is important that these techniques should look beyond 'programmer error' as a primary cause of software failure.

Safety Science

It usually has minimal or no symptoms and typically is not regarded as a primary cause of death.

Encyclopedia Britannica

And it identified federal spending on government health programs as a primary cause of long-term budget deficits.

The New York Times - Health

And in a December study by the United States Conference of Mayors, most of the cities surveyed cited domestic violence as a primary cause of homelessness.

The New York Times

Scientists have identified rising temperatures, which have caused polar ice to melt and thermal expansion of the sea, as a primary cause of the sea level increase.

The Guardian

As the company's management grew more concerned with the price of the stock in early 1990, it identified short-sellers as a primary cause of the decline.

The New York Times

Although many studies have implicated rotation as a primary cause of mTBI, regulatory safety standards use 3 degree-of-freedom (3DOF) translation-only kinematic criteria to predict injury.

Stanford University

Specifically, the removal of intestinal helminths through improved sanitation measures and/or anthelmintic treatment has been suggested as a primary cause of the problem.

Princeton University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "as a primary cause", ensure that the context clearly establishes the causal relationship. Avoid ambiguity by providing sufficient evidence or explanation.

Common error

Avoid using "as a primary cause" when the factor in question is only a contributing element among many. It's better to use phrases like "a contributing factor" when the cause is not definitively the most important one.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "as a primary cause" functions as a prepositional phrase that modifies a noun or verb, indicating the main reason or factor contributing to a particular outcome or event. Ludwig confirms its correct usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

44%

News & Media

20%

Academia

17%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

6%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "as a primary cause" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression for indicating the main reason or factor contributing to a specific outcome. As shown by Ludwig, this phrase appears frequently in scientific, academic, and news contexts. While versatile, it's important to ensure that the identified cause is indeed the primary one, supported by solid evidence, to avoid overstating causation. Alternatives like "mainly due to" or "chiefly responsible for" can offer nuanced ways to express causality, depending on the specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

the principal reason for

This alternative directly states the main reason behind an occurrence.

mainly due to

This phrase focuses on the reason why something happens.

a key factor contributing to

Highlights the essential nature of the contributing element.

a major contributor to

This phrase suggests that something plays a significant, but not necessarily exclusive, role.

largely resulting from

Emphasizes that the outcome is mainly a consequence of something.

chiefly responsible for

This alternative emphasizes the main entity bearing responsibility for the effect.

the leading factor in

This alternative emphasizes the importance and influence of a specific element.

fundamentally caused by

This option suggests a basic and essential cause.

primarily attributed to

Highlights the source or factor to which something is assigned or credited.

the main driver of

This option emphasizes the force that propels or influences an event.

FAQs

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

You can use "as a primary cause" to indicate the main reason for something. For example, "Scientists identified climate change "as a primary cause" of rising sea levels."

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

Alternatives include "mainly due to", "chiefly responsible for", or "the principal reason for". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it always accurate to identify something "as a primary cause"?

Not always. It's essential to have strong evidence to support the claim that something is the primary cause. If other factors are also significant, it's more accurate to describe it "as a contributing factor".

What is the difference between "as a primary cause" and "as a contributing factor"?

"As a primary cause" suggests that something is the main or most important reason for an outcome. "As a contributing factor" indicates that something is one of several reasons, but not necessarily the most important.