basic cause for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "basic cause for" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the fundamental reason or underlying factor for a particular situation or phenomenon. Example: "The basic cause for the decline in bee populations is the widespread use of pesticides."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

But if the carnage was hard to comprehend, its basic cause for many at the scene was not.

The New York Times

Yet the basic cause for this war is the 47-year-old Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories.

Independent

"The basic cause for the construction activity is that the average school building age is 50 years old," said Carl Thurnau, director of facilities planning for the state Department of Education.

The New York Times

Racially based quotas are not the answer just look at America but efforts targeted at the poor of all sorts can help,The basic cause for optimism is that after the second generation come subsequent ones, who tend to do better and be less segregated.

The Economist

The basic cause for class III effects is that homoplasies can outnumber apomorphies.

BMC Evolutionary Biology

The evidence suggests that the basic cause for up-regulation of AhR by E2-selection is related to the E2-induced down-regulation of either expression of ERα as in the case of MCF-7 cells, or the loss of the function of estrogen responsiveness in MCF10AT1 cells.

BMC Cancer

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

This approach provides simple and effective methods for prevention and treatment of basic causes for severe child diseases, which is based on facts and observations, rational and accessible use of remedies.

Unicef

But for all that, the basic cause of its periodic revolutions is simpler: corruption and bad government.

The Economist

The basic cause of dialectal differentiation is linguistic change.

Encyclopedia Britannica

However, this is not a very convenient format for routinely analysing cause of death data; hence, the InterVA-4 software also undertakes basic post-processing of the basic cause of death data into a more readily useable format.

Global Health Action

A full team investigation is used for the more serious incidents and for the incidents where the determination for the basic cause and identification for the most appropriate learning component requires more rigorous assessment.

BioMed Research International

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "basic cause for", ensure you are identifying the most fundamental reason, not just a contributing factor. For example, instead of saying "Lack of funding is a basic cause for the project's delay", clarify the reason for this lack of funding, as it will allow readers to understand the core issue.

Common error

Avoid using "basic cause for" when you actually mean the immediate or triggering cause. The basic cause is the underlying, fundamental reason, whereas the immediate cause is the direct trigger. Using them interchangeably can mislead your audience.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "basic cause for" functions primarily as a noun phrase, identifying the fundamental or underlying reason for something. Ludwig AI indicates that the phrase is grammatically correct and usable in English. It introduces the core explanation for a situation or phenomenon.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

46%

Science

38%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "basic cause for" serves to pinpoint the fundamental reason or underlying factor behind a particular situation. Ludwig AI confirms that it's grammatically sound and suitable for use in English writing. It appears most frequently in news and media contexts, as well as in scientific publications. While grammatically correct, it's essential to distinguish the "basic cause for" from the immediate cause, focusing on the foundational reason rather than a triggering event. Alternatives like "primary reason for" or "fundamental reason for" can provide similar meaning with slight variations in emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

primary reason for

Changes the noun "cause" to "reason" while maintaining the emphasis on the fundamental explanation.

main reason for

Replaces "basic" with "main", highlighting the most important reason.

underlying reason for

Substitutes "basic" with "underlying", emphasizing a less obvious, foundational explanation.

root cause of

Uses "root cause" to indicate the fundamental source of a problem, changing the preposition to "of".

fundamental reason for

Emphasizes the foundational nature of the reason, similar to "basic".

principal cause of

Highlights the most important cause using "principal", and changes the preposition to "of".

key factor in

Shifts the focus to a contributing element, using "factor" instead of "cause", and preposition "in".

major contributor to

Identifies a significant influence, using "contributor" instead of "cause" and changes prepositions.

primary driver of

Uses "driver" to suggest a force that propels an event, and changes prepositions.

essential element of

Focuses on a necessary component, changing the noun to "element" and changes prepositions.

FAQs

What is the difference between "basic cause for" and "root cause of"?

While both phrases identify fundamental reasons, "basic cause for" generally refers to a fundamental reason or explanation, whereas "root cause of" typically denotes the underlying reason for a problem or issue.

What are some alternatives to "basic cause for"?

Alternatives include "primary reason for", "main cause for", or "underlying reason for", depending on the nuance you want to convey.

How can I use "basic cause for" in a sentence?

You can use "basic cause for" to introduce the fundamental reason behind a situation. For example: "The basic cause for the company's failure was poor management."

Is it appropriate to use "basic cause for" in formal writing?

Yes, "basic cause for" is appropriate in formal writing, especially when you want to clearly identify the fundamental reason for a particular event or situation.