cause to attack

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "cause to attack" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where one entity is instigating or prompting another to engage in an attack or aggressive action. Example: "The general's orders were to cause the troops to attack at dawn."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Mr. Chen long advocated Taiwan's formal independence, which Beijing warns would be cause to attack the island it considers an integral part of China.

The New York Times

Washington had no cause to attack them.

Huffington Post

For example, establishing a precedent that China could use to attack targets in the United States - if China decided we were ideologically hostile to the Dictatorship of the Proletariat in China, for example (we are) and that constituted valid cause to attack us.

Huffington Post

Perhaps nowhere was this contradiction more evident than in Trump's treatment of Venezuela, a country with a deeply inhumane government but one that poses no threat to U.S. security which is to say, a country the United States has absolutely no cause to attack.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

However, detective superintendent Ray Rohweder said on Thursday there was "no indication whatsoever that any radicalisation or any political motives existed to cause him to attack the people that he did".

The Guardian

It's hard to see how, for example, a Turkish attack on Syria could cause China to attack Vietnam.

Huffington Post

However, there are underlying triggers in both that cause them to attack each other, rather than resolving their differences cooperatively.

Huffington Post

In the third annual Treehouse of Horror episode, Homer buys Bart an evil talking Krusty doll, King Homer is captured by Mr. Burns, and Bart and Lisa inadvertently cause zombies to attack Springfield.

Wikipedia

This can seem threatening to them and may cause them to attack.

WikiHow

One nasty mushroomlike creature releases spores that drive Pikmin insane, causing them to attack and kill Olimar.

The New York Times - Tech

"Those are the values that caused them to attack New York," Captain Porter said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "cause to attack", ensure clarity regarding the agent initiating the action and the target of the attack. This avoids ambiguity and strengthens the sentence's meaning.

Common error

Avoid using "cause to attack" when the subject doesn't directly influence the attack. Instead, use verbs like 'lead', 'result', or 'contribute' to indicate less direct influence.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "cause to attack" functions as a causal verb phrase, indicating that one entity or action is directly responsible for prompting another to initiate an attack. Ludwig AI affirms its proper use in English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Science

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "cause to attack" is a grammatically correct construction used to indicate a direct causal relationship between one entity and an aggressive action initiated by another. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is usable in written English. While relatively infrequent, it appears predominantly in news and media contexts. The expert rating is positive, considering the grammatical soundness and authoritative sourcing. When using "cause to attack", prioritize clarity in agency and target to strengthen meaning and ensure precision. Alternative expressions such as "incite an attack" or "provoke a strike" may offer slightly different nuances depending on context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

lead to an assault

Focuses on the result of the cause being a physical assault, emphasizing the outcome more directly.

prompt an offensive

Highlights the initiation of an offensive action, suggesting a more strategic or planned attack.

trigger an aggression

Emphasizes a sudden or reactive aggressive response, often implying a pre-existing tension.

incite an attack

Stresses the act of encouraging or provoking an attack, suggesting a deliberate instigation.

spark an onslaught

Implies a massive, overwhelming attack, suggesting a large-scale and forceful aggression.

motivate an offensive

Highlights the underlying reason for an offensive, suggesting an intention or purpose behind the attack.

drive to aggression

Focuses on the force that compels someone towards an aggressive action, underlining the internal pressure.

provoke a strike

Emphasizes the act of intentionally eliciting a strike or attack as a response.

induce hostility

Highlights the generation of a hostile sentiment or environment, leading to potential attacks.

result in aggression

Focuses on the aggression as a consequence, presenting a cause-and-effect relationship without specific agency.

FAQs

How can I use "cause to attack" in a sentence?

You can use "cause to attack" to show that something or someone leads to another entity beginning an attack. For example: "The inflammatory speech may "cause to attack" the opposing party".

What are some alternatives to "cause to attack"?

Alternatives include "incite an attack", "provoke a strike", or "trigger an aggression", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "cause an attack" or "cause to attack"?

"Cause an attack" is grammatically correct; however, "cause to attack" specifies the entity initiating the attack because of the initial cause. The phrases are slightly different in meaning.

What's the difference between "cause to attack" and "lead to an assault"?

"Cause to attack" emphasizes the direct instigation, while "lead to an assault" focuses more on the consequence of a preceding action. The former implies more deliberate causation.