cause of why

USAGE SUMMARY

"cause of why" is not a correct phrase in written English.
You could use the phrase "because of why" in some contexts, but it would not be considered grammatically correct. For example, you could say: "I can't tell you why he left, because of why it's confidential."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Academia

Science

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

48 human-written examples

But we shouldn't forget the very root cause of why women had to flee after all".

The Guardian

"I feel like these people who were bullying Tyrone are the cause of why he is not here any more.

The Guardian

First, the root cause of why states want to hold their elections before anyone else is the belief that voting first gives their votes more significance.

Cornell University

"And that is the proximate cause of why against two very, very well-known Democratic challengers, he has a 2-to-1 lead in every state poll".

The New York Times

"You've got to look at the root cause of why people are moving, and then offer them safe ways of passage through some form of regional processing.

The Guardian

And I think this is actually the root cause of why we see so few companies are successfully able to leap into the new knowledge frontier.

Harvard Business Review

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

12 human-written examples

"The big causes of why people come to a doctor are most often conditions that are self-limited," Dr. Ramsey said.

The New York Times - Health

Gooda said Australia needed to examine the underlying causes of why children were being detained in the first place.

The Guardian

But they do not address the underlying causes of why girls from very poor families drop out of school.

The New York Times

Hence, the current study was designed to investigate possible causes of why the three hypoxia core genes are overexpressed in worker larvae.

Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

He said beyond the facts of what occurred in Don Dale, Australia, more broadly, needs to examine the underlying causes of why these children are being detained.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using "cause of why" in formal writing. Opt for clearer alternatives like "reason why" or "cause for which".

Common error

The phrase "cause of why" is redundant because "cause" and "why" both indicate reason. Using them together creates an unnecessary repetition. Choose one or the other for conciseness.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "cause of why" attempts to function as a causal connector, linking an event or situation to its underlying reason. Although commonly used, Ludwig AI identifies this phrase as grammatically incorrect due to redundancy. However, Ludwig examples show how it appears in various contexts, often functioning as a connector to explain a reason or origin.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

37%

Academia

23%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Science

13%

Formal & Business

9%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

While the phrase "cause of why" is frequently used across different types of sources, Ludwig AI flags it as grammatically incorrect due to redundancy. Both "cause" and "why" serve to indicate reason, making their combination unnecessary. As a result, it is better to consider using alternatives like "reason why" or "cause for which" for better clarity and grammatical accuracy, especially in formal writing. Although commonly used, awareness of its grammatical issues will result in more precise and professional communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

reason why

Omits "cause of", focusing directly on the reason for something.

the reason behind

Highlights the underlying reason or motivation.

the explanation for

Focuses on providing a justification or understanding.

reason for which

More formal phrasing, replacing "why" with "for which".

the cause behind

Highlights the underlying cause or source.

cause for which

Mirrors "reason for which", emphasizing the cause instead of the reason.

the source of

Highlights where something comes from or originates.

why this happened

Focuses on the event and seeks explanation, omitting the word "cause".

the roots of

Similar to "the origins of", but can imply more complexity or depth.

the origins of

Emphasizes the beginnings or roots of something.

FAQs

What's a grammatically correct alternative to "cause of why"?

While "cause of why" is commonly used, it's grammatically incorrect. Alternatives include "reason why" or "cause for which".

Is "cause of why" considered formal or informal?

Although frequently used, "cause of why" is generally considered informal. It's best to avoid it in academic or professional writing in favour of alternatives like /s/reason+why or /s/the+reason+behind.

Why is "cause of why" considered redundant?

The expression "cause of why" is considered redundant because both "cause" and "why" imply a reason. Therefore, using both together is repetitive. Simpler alternatives are “reason why” or “cause for something”.

How can I use "reason why" in a sentence?

Instead of saying "The cause of why the event was canceled is unknown", you can say "The reason why the event was canceled is unknown" or "The reason for the event's cancellation is unknown".