caused

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "caused" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when describing an effect or consequence of something, such as when something causes an event or a situation. For example: "The storm caused a power outage in the city."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The displaced groups were expected to be living in the tents for up to eight weeks and authorities won't know until Cyclone Nathan has passed whether damage caused is likely to extend that.

The Guardian

The cyclone has approached from the east after crossing the Gulf of Carpentaria from Queensland's Cape York Peninsula where it made landfall as a category four storm but caused minimal damage.

The Guardian

An investigation into what caused the men to crash into the cliff face is ongoing.

The Guardian

Thousands of London-bound commuters have been left stranded on held-up trains for up to four hours after a power supply problem caused chaos at Clapham Junction, the UK's busiest rail station.

The Guardian

What a nightmare!" There had been delays involving Clapham Junction earlier in the rush hour due to a lineside fire which caused hold-ups to services on London Overground.

The Guardian

Inside the cocoon of an event where the main sponsors don't accept that human caused climate change is even real, the news from Beijing seemed to further outline how rapidly the world could change – whether the coal industry likes it or not.

The Guardian

Midway through construction, however, financial problems caused the project to grind to a halt.

The Guardian - Music

She chastised the luckless philanthropist, complaining that he had disrupted the choir's performance and that he might have caused a serious situation, what with the stampeding shoppers and all.

The Guardian - Opinion

Further controversy has been caused by a questionnaire sent to all Hungarians by Orban's government to sound out their views on immigration.

The Guardian

It will take million of pounds to restore the damage caused in affected boroughs such as mine.

The Guardian - Opinion

The newsagents had taken the precautionary measure of closing for business during the day to avoid damage being caused to the shop.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "caused", ensure that the relationship between cause and effect is clear and direct to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "caused" repeatedly in long, complex sentences. Break down the sentence or use synonyms to improve clarity and flow.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "caused" is to act as the past participle of the verb "cause", indicating that an action or event has led to a specific result. Ludwig AI confirms this with numerous examples showing its use in connecting a cause with its effect.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

25%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "caused" is a past participle form used to express a direct cause-and-effect relationship. It's highly versatile, fitting into various contexts from news reports to formal writing. Ludwig AI indicates that it's grammatically correct and widely used. When writing, it is best practice to ensure clarity in the cause-and-effect relationship to avoid ambiguity and overuse in complex sentences. Furthermore, you can use alternative phrases such as "led to" or "resulted in" to prevent repetition and enhance your expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

resulted in

Stresses the outcome or consequence of an action.

led to

Focuses on the sequence of events where one thing results in another.

produced

Emphasizes the direct creation or manufacturing of an outcome.

brought about

Emphasizes the act of making something happen or exist.

effected

Focuses on achieving a specific result or change.

gave rise to

Highlights the emergence or beginning of something as a result.

generated

Implies the creation or production of something as a result.

precipitated

Suggests a hastening or accelerating effect on the outcome.

instigated

Highlights the initiating or starting of an action or event.

occasioned

Indicates that something created an opportunity for something else to happen.

FAQs

How to use "caused" in a sentence?

Use "caused" to indicate that something has directly led to a particular outcome. For example, "The heavy rain "caused flooding" in the low-lying areas."

What can I say instead of "caused"?

You can use alternatives like "led to", "resulted in", or "brought about" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "caused by" or "due to"?

"Caused by" and "due to" are both acceptable but used differently. "Caused by" follows the effect, while "due to" precedes it. For instance, "The accident was caused by negligence" or "Due to negligence, the accident occurred."

What's the difference between "caused" and "affected"?

"Caused" implies a direct relationship where one thing makes another happen. "Affected" means influenced or impacted, which is a less direct relationship. "The earthquake caused significant damage" versus "The earthquake affected the local economy".