cause of problem

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "cause of problem" is not entirely correct; it should be "cause of the problem" for proper usage in written English.
You can use it when discussing the reason behind a specific issue or difficulty. Example: "The cause of the problem was identified as a lack of communication among team members."

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

Clinicians determined main cause of problem was patient being incredible horn-dog.

The New Yorker

"Government is wrong to say there is nothing that they can do about price of steel – a major cause of problem is Chinese dumping," said Stace.

The Guardian - Business

Assuming a problem as a probabilistic or stochastic is the most important cause of problem complexity and its solution.

Journal of Industrial Engineering International

Furthermore, product design corresponding to customer requirement does not feel adequately solved for a cause of problem.

European Journal of Operational Research

This studys' aim is to identify the root cause of problem and design strategies in optimizing the role of CSR in accelerating SMEs growth.

Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences

While the slew of spammy links only seems to have begun within the last hour or so, it appears as though the root cause of problem may have begun a little earlier than that.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

"We look for the root cause of problems.

The New York Times - Health

The most common cause of problems is caused by orders not turning up at all.

Independent

Dyspraxia is now a well-recognised cause of problems that affect kids, especially boys.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Children are neither the solution to nor cause of problems between married couples.

The New York Times

Yet emigration of skilled workers may be a consequence rather than a cause of problems in the sending country.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "cause of problem", consider whether adding "the" clarifies your meaning and improves grammatical correctness.

Common error

A common mistake is omitting the definite article "the" before "problem". While understandable in informal speech, including "the" makes the phrase grammatically stronger and more precise in formal writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "cause of problem" functions as a noun phrase identifying the origin or reason behind a specific issue. Ludwig AI points out that it's grammatically improved by including the article "the", making it "cause of the problem".

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "cause of problem" is a phrase used to denote the origin or reason behind a specific issue. As Ludwig AI indicates, using "cause of the problem" is grammatically preferred. While understandable across various contexts, it appears more frequently in scientific and news-related sources. For enhanced clarity and grammatical correctness, consider using the definite article "the" or exploring alternatives such as "root of the problem" or "origin of the issue".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

root of the problem

Focuses on the fundamental or underlying cause.

source of the trouble

Replaces "problem" with a more informal term, "trouble".

reason for the difficulty

Substitutes "problem" with "difficulty", indicating a less severe issue.

origin of the issue

Uses "origin" instead of "cause", suggesting a beginning or starting point.

underlying factor

Highlights the hidden or less obvious element contributing to the problem.

primary driver of the problem

Emphasizes the main force behind the issue.

the genesis of the problem

Uses "genesis" to denote the start or creation of the problem.

the determinant of the problem

Highlights what decisively affects the nature or outcome of something.

major contributing factor

Highlights an element that adds to the problem, but is not the only cause.

antecedent of the problem

Uses a more formal term referring to something that precedes the problem.

FAQs

How to use "cause of problem" in a sentence?

While grammatically questionable, "cause of problem" is used to indicate the reason for an issue. For better clarity, use "cause of the problem" or alternatives like "root of the problem".

What can I say instead of "cause of problem"?

You can use alternatives like "source of the trouble", "reason for the difficulty", or "origin of the issue" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "cause of problem" or "cause of the problem"?

"Cause of the problem" is generally considered more grammatically correct than "cause of problem". The addition of "the" provides better clarity and grammatical structure. You can read Ludwig AI explanation above.

What's the difference between "cause of problem" and "root of the problem"?

"Cause of problem" broadly refers to the reason for an issue, while "root of the problem" emphasizes the fundamental, underlying reason.