cause uncertainty

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "cause uncertainty" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing situations, actions, or events that lead to doubt or lack of clarity. Example: "The sudden changes in policy may cause uncertainty among the employees regarding their job security."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"A lot of things could cause uncertainty," she said.

The New York Times

But do contractions cause uncertainty, they ask, or does uncertainty cause contractions?

The Guardian - Business

As with every physical system, there are number of noise factors cause uncertainty in the performance.

Mechanical Systems and Signal Processing

"The next phase of improvements will be challenging for Foxconn because they involve major changes in the working environment that will inevitably cause uncertainty and anxiety among workers.

The Guardian - Tech

These effects can cause uncertainty of up to 700% in the actual ultrasound exposure experienced by the cell.

Ultrasound in Medicine & Biology

Many senior business figures are nervous, fearing that a referendum would cause uncertainty and deter job-creating foreign investment in the UK.

Independent

These methods are based on the assumptions of the model structure, correlated residuals, etc., which can cause uncertainty in estimation ability of the model on unseen data.

International Journal of Hydrogen Energy

But he admitted this would cause uncertainty over what price Shire might be prepared to pay, and said the shares could have a rocky ride over the next few days.

The Guardian - Business

But a negative vote in Congress on permanent trade relations would cause uncertainty and confusion, trade officials say, leading China to deny benefits to the United States that it grants to other countries.

The New York Times

Michael Hintze, who runs CQS, a hedge-fund group, thinks the plan will be a net plus for the industry: "It will cause uncertainty and volatility and we can take advantage.

The Economist

The government failed to think things through and raised "a large number of complex legal and employment questions" that would cause uncertainty among employers and staff," the group said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the audience. In formal contexts, alternatives like "generate ambiguity" may be more suitable than "cause uncertainty".

Common error

Avoid using "cause uncertainty" without specifying what the subject is. For example, instead of "This will cause uncertainty", use "This decision will cause uncertainty among investors".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "cause uncertainty" functions as a verb phrase. It describes an action (cause) that results in a state or condition (uncertainty). Examples from Ludwig illustrate how various factors can "cause uncertainty" in different contexts. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is considered correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

40%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "cause uncertainty" is a versatile and grammatically sound way to describe how certain actions or events can lead to a state of doubt or lack of clarity. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's widely used across various contexts, including news, science, and business. While "cause uncertainty" is generally suitable for most writing, remember to tailor your word choice to your specific audience and the level of formality required. Consider using alternatives like ""generate doubt"" or ""create ambiguity"" for nuanced expression. Always specify the subject that is being made uncertain for maximum impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

generate doubt

Replaces "cause" with "generate", focusing on the creation of doubt rather than uncertainty itself.

create ambiguity

Substitutes "uncertainty" with "ambiguity", highlighting the lack of clear meaning.

induce doubt

Uses "induce" to emphasize the act of bringing about doubt or uncertainty.

foster skepticism

Focuses on creating a general feeling of doubt or disbelief.

raise questions

Highlights the action of prompting inquiries that suggest uncertainty.

lead to confusion

Shifts the focus to the resulting confusion from a lack of certainty.

spark apprehension

Emphasizes the creation of anxiety or unease due to uncertainty.

promote instability

Highlights the destabilizing effect of uncertainty.

inject volatility

Focuses on introducing unpredictable changes or fluctuations.

breed apprehension

Uses "breed" to suggest that uncertainty cultivates anxiety or fear.

FAQs

How can I use "cause uncertainty" in a sentence?

You can use "cause uncertainty" to describe situations or actions that lead to doubt or a lack of clarity. For example, "The new regulations may "generate doubt" among businesses".

What phrases are similar to "cause uncertainty"?

Similar phrases include "create ambiguity", "induce doubt", or "lead to confusion", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is "cause uncertainty" formal or informal?

"Cause uncertainty" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts, but for highly formal writing, you might consider alternatives such as "foster skepticism" or "inject volatility".

What's the difference between "cause uncertainty" and "create ambiguity"?

"Cause uncertainty" generally refers to generating doubt or a lack of sureness, while ""create ambiguity"" specifically implies a lack of clarity or having multiple possible meanings. They are related but not perfectly interchangeable.