cause to lose

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "cause to lose" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing a situation or action that leads to someone or something losing, whether it be a game, opportunity, or possession. Example: "The unexpected turn of events caused the team to lose the championship match."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

But the Administration is counting on the soldiers and the journalists and the advocates who have made this their cause to lose interest and move on.

The New Yorker

The bank has maintained that money in the accounts was not used for anything illegal and that investors have no cause to lose confidence.

The New York Times

Moreover, congestion occurrence may cause to lose revenue for some generators.

Journal of Modern Power Systems and Clean Energy

Because a woman can never tell which man she will cause to lose control.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

As discussed earlier, the stopping causes to lose the quality information and increase the estimation errors.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

It could cause you to lose balance which could possibly cause you to fall.

WikiHow

The doctors concluded that licorice might cause men to lose their sex drive.

The New York Times - Health

It can cause you to lose fingers".

The New York Times - Sports

George W. Bush enough votes to cause him to lose Florida.

The New York Times

It may cause him to lose focus sometimes.

The New York Times - Sports

That could cause him to lose in September.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "cause to lose", ensure the sentence clearly indicates what is being lost and who or what is experiencing the loss. For example, "Poor planning can "cause to lose" valuable time and resources."

Common error

Avoid using "cause to lose" with inanimate or abstract subjects that cannot logically experience loss. Instead of saying "The weather caused to lose the game", a better formulation is "The weather caused the team to lose the game".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "cause to lose" functions as a causative verb phrase. It describes an action or event that results in someone or something experiencing a loss. Ludwig examples show its usage across various contexts to indicate how different factors can lead to negative outcomes.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "cause to lose" is a grammatically sound and usable phrase in English. Ludwig AI indicates its function as a causative verb phrase used to explain the reason behind a loss or failure. While its usage is relatively uncommon, it is found across diverse contexts, including news, science and general writing. To maximize clarity, ensure that the subject experiencing the loss is clearly identified. Remember to consider alternative phrasing depending on the specific context and desired level of formality, such as '"lead to a loss"' or '"result in losing"'.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

lead to a loss

This alternative is a more direct and slightly more formal way of expressing the same idea.

result in losing

This alternative emphasizes the outcome of losing as a consequence.

make someone forfeit

This alternative implies a forced loss, often due to a rule or penalty.

contribute to defeat

This alternative highlights the contribution to an overall failure.

be the reason for downfall

This alternative suggests a significant and negative consequence.

precipitate failure

This alternative implies a hastened or accelerated failure.

bring about the loss of

This alternative is a more formal and emphatic way of stating the cause of a loss.

put at a disadvantage

This alternative focuses on creating an unfavorable condition that increases the likelihood of losing.

sabotage chances of success

This alternative implies a deliberate or unintentional act that undermines success.

undermine the possibility of winning

This alternative highlights the weakening of chances for a positive outcome.

FAQs

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

You can use "cause to lose" to indicate that something leads to a loss. For example, "His mistake "caused the team to lose" the match" or "The high winds "caused them to lose" control of the boat".

What are some alternatives to "cause to lose"?

Alternatives include "lead to a loss", "result in losing", or "make someone forfeit", depending on the context.

Is it better to say "cause to lose" or "caused to lose"?

Both phrases are grammatically correct, but their usage depends on the sentence structure. "Cause to lose" is used in present or future tense, while "caused to lose" is used in past tense. For example, "Poor planning can "cause to lose" valuable time" versus "Poor planning "caused to lose" valuable time last year".

What is the difference between "cause to lose" and "cause losing"?

"Cause to lose" implies a direct action leading to a loss. "Cause losing" is less common and may sound awkward. It's generally better to use "cause to lose" for clarity and grammatical correctness. You might rephrase to something such as "lead to losing" instead of cause losing.