assess the cause

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "assess the cause" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when evaluating or analyzing the reason behind a particular event or situation. Example: "In order to improve our processes, we need to assess the cause of the recent delays in production."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

29 human-written examples

The availability heuristic is a strategy we use to assess the cause or probability of an event on the basis of how readily similar examples come to mind that is, how "available" they are to us.

Harvard Business Review

We use the concept of radiative signatures to investigate the source of the radiative perturbation during the drought, relate the signatures to expected changes due to anthropogenic warming, and assess the cause of warming based on observed changes in the surface energy balance compared to the period 2001 2012.

Journal of Hydrology

The notice of claim focuses on the decision by Stamford officials to demolish the remains of the house the day after the fire, which Ms. Badger contends intentionally destroyed evidence before independent experts could assess the cause of the fire and help her recover money "from the responsible parties".

The New York Times

The purpose of this study was to clarify the sex differences in pitch range (PR) and speech fundamental frequency (SFF) after arytenoid adduction (AA) combined with type 1 thyroplasty (TP1) in patients with unilateral vocal fold paralysis (UVFP) and to assess the cause of these differences.

Journal of Voice

Further investigation would be needed to assess the cause.

Open Geospatial Data, Software and Standards

As there was marginal improvement we tried to assess the cause of delay, even though this was not an original aim of our study.

Journal of Orthopaedics and Traumatology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

31 human-written examples

"Assess the causes of poverty in your local community" is the task set by her schoolteacher.

The Guardian

One of the taskforce's first jobs is to assess the causes and features of fragility and conflict.

The Guardian

For criminologists and other social scientists, trying to assess the causes is a growth industry.

The Economist

This study uses numerical simulation methods to assess the causes of the difficulties encountered in cut blasting.

Tunnelling and Underground Space Technology

We assess the causes of compliance with international financial transparency standards through random assignment of incorporation services – firms that specialize in setting up companies – to a variety of treatment and control conditions.

Yale University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "assess the cause" in formal writing, ensure that your assessment is thorough and based on credible evidence. Clearly state the methods you used to reach your conclusion.

Common error

Avoid assuming that because two events are correlated, one directly caused the other. Always investigate potential confounding factors when you "assess the cause" of an event.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "assess the cause" primarily functions as a verb phrase used to describe the action of evaluating or determining the reason behind a specific event or situation. As Ludwig AI notes, it is grammatically sound and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

30%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "assess the cause" is a versatile and grammatically sound phrase employed across diverse fields to denote the evaluation or determination of the reason behind an event or situation. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. Predominantly found in scientific, news, and academic contexts, the phrase carries a neutral to formal register, lending itself to scenarios demanding thorough analysis and decision-making. To ensure effective use, remember to substantiate your assessment with credible evidence and avoid jumping to conclusions based solely on correlation. Consider using alternatives like "determine the reason" or ""analyze the source"" to add nuance to your writing. The prevalence of this phrase in authoritative sources underscores its importance in clear and precise communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

determine the reason

Focuses on finding the specific reason, slightly less formal.

investigate the origin

Emphasizes a more in-depth exploration of where something began.

analyze the source

Implies a structured examination of where something comes from.

evaluate the basis

Highlights judging the fundamental reasons.

ascertain the grounds

Suggests finding out the facts that support something.

diagnose the problem

More appropriate in contexts dealing with issues or malfunctions.

explore the rationale

Suitable when understanding the reasoning behind a decision or action.

uncover the root

Emphasizes finding the fundamental, often hidden, cause.

probe the etiology

A highly formal and scientific alternative, especially in medical contexts.

scrutinize the drivers

Focuses on the factors that propel or influence an outcome.

FAQs

What does "assess the cause" mean?

The phrase "assess the cause" means to evaluate or determine the reason or origin of something, such as a problem, event, or condition.

How can I use "assess the cause" in a sentence?

You can use "assess the cause" to describe an investigation or evaluation. For instance, "The engineers need to "analyze the source" of the system failure to prevent future incidents."

What are some alternatives to "assess the cause"?

Alternatives include phrases like "determine the reason", "investigate the origin", or ""analyze the source"", depending on the context.

In what situations is it important to "assess the cause"?

It's crucial to "assess the cause" in situations where you need to understand why something happened, such as in scientific research, medical diagnosis, troubleshooting technical problems, or analyzing business performance.