cause for suspicion

USAGE SUMMARY

"cause for suspicion" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when indicating that something raises doubts or concerns about someone's behavior or actions. Example: "His sudden change in behavior was a cause for suspicion among his colleagues." Alternative expressions include "reason for doubt" and "grounds for suspicion."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

Recent history gives them cause for suspicion.

The Guardian

No proof is required, just reasonable cause for suspicion.

The New York Times

Butler finds cause for suspicion in Homer's text itself.

The Guardian - Books

"Now it's cause for suspicion or evidence of derangement".

The New York Times - Books

Lepage's production will employ extravagant computer-operated sets, which, for some members, was cause for suspicion.

The New Yorker

It seemed that being non-white was often a cause for suspicion.

The Guardian

For money-laundering experts, this fact alone would be cause for suspicion.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

4 human-written examples

He was positive and empathetic about Islam and Muslims, and wise to avoid giving any reasonable cause for suspicions of "cultural imperialism".

The Guardian - Opinion

A lack of government-issued identification, a foreign vehicle registration or an inability to provide a residential address are among the objective causes for suspicion listed in the video.

The New York Times

"Exercising your First Amendment right is not probable cause, it's not reason for suspicion.

Vice

You can't just trawl around for dirt without reasonable cause for specific suspicion.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In formal writing, favor this phrase or "grounds for suspicion" over more casual terms like "red flags" or "fishy behavior".

Common error

Do not add 'of' after 'suspicion' if you are following it with an infinitive phrase. For example, write 'cause for suspicion to arise' rather than 'cause for suspicion of to arise'. Keep the structure lean to maintain clarity.

Linguistic Context

As a noun phrase, "cause for suspicion" typically functions as a subject, direct object or predicative complement within a sentence. According to Ludwig AI, it frequently appears after the verb 'to be' (e.g., 'it was cause for suspicion') or as the object of verbs like 'find' or 'give' (e.g., 'gave no cause for suspicion').

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Academia

15%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "cause for suspicion" is a highly reliable and idiomatic English expression used to describe situations that justify doubt. Analysis from Ludwig shows a very high density of usage in top-tier publications, confirming its status as a staple of professional writing. Whether in a legal context, like the arrest warrant examples from The Guardian, or in daily news reports, it provides a precise way to flag potential issues. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and wide acceptance, making it a safe and effective choice for writers looking to express caution or alert readers to anomalous behavior.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

reason for suspicion

A direct and equally common synonym using 'reason' instead of 'cause'.

grounds for suspicion

Often used in legal or formal contexts to imply a more substantial evidentiary basis.

reason for doubt

Broadens the scope from active suspicion to general uncertainty.

cause for concern

Shifts the focus from potential wrongdoing to potential worry or trouble.

basis for mistrust

Focuses on the interpersonal or emotional lack of trust resulting from an action.

room for skepticism

Suggests that a claim or situation warrants a critical, questioning attitude.

justification for wariness

Uses more formal vocabulary to describe a defensive or cautious stance.

red flags

A more idiomatic and metaphorical way to describe warning signs.

motive for distrust

Specifies that there is a underlying reason why trust has been withheld.

probable cause

A strictly legal term used in criminal law requiring a higher threshold of evidence.

FAQs

How to use "cause for suspicion" in a sentence?

You can use it as a noun phrase to describe a trigger for doubt. For example: "The sudden movement in the dark alley was a cause for suspicion for the patrolling officer."

What can I say instead of "cause for suspicion"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "reason for suspicion", "grounds for suspicion" or "cause for concern".

Is "cause for suspicion" or "reason for suspicion" more correct?

Both are grammatically correct and interchangeable. However, "cause for suspicion" is slightly more common in formal reports and investigative journalism, as seen in Ludwig's data from sources like The New York Times.

Is it "cause for suspicion" or "cause of suspicion"?

The idiomatic standard is "cause for suspicion" when referring to the justification for being suspicious. While "cause of suspicion" is used occasionally, it often refers to the origin or source of the feeling itself.