cause of

USAGE SUMMARY

"cause of" is a commonly used phrase in written English.
You can use it when you want to provide a reason behind something. For example: "He hadn't studied, cause of his busy schedule."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Cause of death: accidental.

Independent

Cause of crash unknown.

Independent

Cause of death.

The New York Times

The cause of the problem?

The New York Times

"Push the cause of peace".

The New York Times

And the cause of death?

Independent

The cause of death?

The New York Times

A Cause of Cancer?

The New York Times - Health

'Cause of the forklift".

The New Yorker

The cause of death was leukemia.

The New York Times

The cause of his death remains mysterious.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "cause of", ensure that the relationship between the cause and effect is clear and direct to avoid ambiguity. For instance, instead of saying 'the accident was the cause of many problems', specify 'the accident was the cause of the traffic delays'.

Common error

Avoid assuming that because two events are related, one is necessarily the "cause of" the other. Always verify if there is a true causal relationship, or if they are merely correlated. For example, ice cream sales and crime rates may rise simultaneously in summer, but ice cream is not the "cause of" crime.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "cause of" functions as a prepositional phrase, typically acting as a noun modifier or a complement. It identifies the origin, reason, or source behind a specific event, condition, or phenomenon. Ludwig AI confirms its wide usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

25%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "cause of" is a versatile and commonly used prepositional phrase that identifies the reason, origin, or source behind something. Ludwig AI indicates that it is grammatically correct and widely used in news, scientific writing, and general communication. While alternatives like "reason for" or "origin of" exist, "cause of" maintains broad applicability. When writing, ensure a clear cause-effect relationship and avoid confusing correlation with causation. By understanding these nuances, you can effectively use "cause of" to enhance clarity and precision in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

reason for

Focuses on the rationale or explanation behind something.

origin of

Highlights the beginning or source from which something arises.

source of

Indicates the starting point or the thing that produces something.

etiology of

More formal and often used in medical or scientific contexts to denote the origin of a disease or condition.

basis for

Emphasizes the foundation or justification for something.

roots of

Suggests a deeper, more fundamental reason or origin.

grounds for

Highlights the justification or reason for an action or belief.

motivation behind

Focuses on the driving force or intention behind an action.

driving force of

Emphasizes the element that propels or strongly influences something.

determinant of

Highlights the factor that decisively affects or determines an outcome.

FAQs

How to use "cause of" in a sentence?

Use "cause of" to indicate the reason or origin of something. For example, "The primary "cause of" the fire was negligence". You can use alternatives like "reason for" or "etiology of" depending on the context.

What can I say instead of "cause of"?

Depending on the context, you can replace "cause of" with alternatives such as "reason for", "origin of", or "source of". Each emphasizes a slightly different aspect of causation.

Which is correct, "cause of" or "because of"?

"Cause of" is a noun phrase used to identify the reason, whereas "because of" is a prepositional phrase used to explain why something happened. Example: "The "cause of" the delay was a flat tire," versus "We were late because of a flat tire".

What's the difference between "cause of" and "contributor to"?

"Cause of" implies the primary or direct reason something happened. "Contributor to", however, suggests one of several factors that influenced an outcome, but not necessarily the sole reason. For example: Smoking is a major "cause of" lung cancer, but air pollution is a "contributor to" respiratory problems.