cause has been identified

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "cause has been identified" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing a situation where the reason or source of a problem or event has been determined. Example: "After thorough investigation, the cause has been identified as a software malfunction that led to the system failure."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

No cause has been identified for the dams' failure, which left about 750 people homeless.

The Guardian

The underlying cause has been identified as dark energy, which is causing the Universe to disappear as time goes on.

Forbes

Seven years later, no single, underlying cause has been identified to explain the large-scale die-off of bees.

Science Magazine

"While no cause has been identified, none of the ingredients that were in our restaurants at the time of this incident are still in our restaurants," Chipotle spokesman Chris Arnold said in an email.

Huffington Post

Musk's tweets about the investigation are "unusual," as most companies would prefer to stay quiet until a likely cause has been identified, said Phil Smith, senior space analyst for the Tauri Group, an aerospace consulting firm.

Los Angeles Times

5 10% of thoroughbred horses and some standardbred horses suffer from the condition equine exertional rhabdomyolysis; no specific cause has been identified, but an underlying muscle calcium regulation disorder is suspected.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

There, chronic pain, unlike the acute variety, was treated as a malfunction in perception, whether or not an ongoing physical cause had been identified.

The New York Times - Health

Nasdaq officials said the halt was prompted by a problem with the data system that disseminates prices and that its cause had been "identified and addressed".

The New York Times

The halt was prompted by a problem with the data system that disseminates prices, Nasdaq officials said, adding that the cause had been "identified and addressed".

The New York Times

The American military said Tuesday that the death toll had grown to at least 63 and that the cause had been identified: two car bombs that ignited a gas line.

The New York Times

Similarly, research into the causes and consequences of intersex in fish is now well into its second decade, with no single cause having been identified.

Drug Safety

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "cause has been identified", ensure that you can clearly state what the cause is. Avoid using the phrase vaguely; specificity enhances clarity and credibility.

Common error

While "cause has been identified" is grammatically correct, overuse of the passive voice can make writing sound weak. Whenever possible, rephrase to highlight the actor or entity that identified the cause for a more direct and engaging tone. For instance, instead of saying "The cause has been identified", consider saying "Researchers have identified the cause".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "cause has been identified" functions as a statement indicating that the origin or reason for a particular phenomenon, problem, or situation has been successfully determined. As Ludwig AI confirms, this is a standard and acceptable phrase.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

35%

News & Media

35%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "cause has been identified" is a grammatically correct and usable expression indicating that the reason or origin of something has been determined. While Ludwig AI confirms its validity, it is essential to use it with specificity and avoid overuse of the passive voice. Alternatives like "reason has been determined" or "source has been established" can provide variety. The phrase is most commonly found in scientific and news contexts and is considered to have a neutral register. When using this phrase, ensure clarity and consider alternative structures for stronger writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

the reason has been determined

Replaces "cause" with "reason" and "identified" with "determined", focusing on the act of finding the reason.

the source has been established

Substitutes "cause" with "source" and "identified" with "established", highlighting the establishment of the origin.

the origin has been discovered

Uses "origin" instead of "cause" and "discovered" in place of "identified", emphasizing the finding of the starting point.

the explanation has been found

Replaces "cause" with "explanation" and "identified" with "found", focusing on the discovery of the explanation.

the root of the problem is known

Changes the structure to highlight that the "root of the problem" is now "known".

the underlying factor has been revealed

Substitutes "cause" with "underlying factor" and "identified" with "revealed", stressing the unveiling of the factor.

the responsible agent has been pinpointed

Replaces "cause" with "responsible agent" and "identified" with "pinpointed", emphasizing the precision in finding the agent.

the contributing element has been recognized

Uses "contributing element" instead of "cause" and "recognized" in place of "identified", focusing on the recognition of the element.

the basis for this has been ascertained

Changes the structure to passive voice, focusing on the basis being ascertained.

the reason behind this has come to light

Replaces "cause" with "reason behind this" and "identified" with "has come to light", changing the tone.

FAQs

How can I use "cause has been identified" in a sentence?

You can use "cause has been identified" when discussing a situation where the reason or source of a problem or event has been determined. For example: "After thorough investigation, the "cause has been identified" as a software malfunction."

What can I say instead of "cause has been identified"?

You can use alternatives like "reason has been determined", "source has been established", or "origin has been discovered" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "cause has been identified" or "the cause was identified"?

Both phrases are grammatically correct. "Cause has been identified" suggests a recent or ongoing discovery, while "the cause was identified" implies that the identification occurred in the past and is now a known fact.

What's the difference between "cause has been identified" and "causes have been identified"?

"Cause has been identified" refers to a single cause that has been found. "Causes have been identified" indicates that multiple causes have been discovered.