caused by

USAGE SUMMARY

"caused by" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase to indicate the source or origin of a particular event or situation. For example: The financial crisis was caused by poor economic policy.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Civilian casualties caused by N.A.T.O.

The New Yorker

(It was caused by something).

The New York Times

Caused by microinfarcts.

Stanford University

A grey sky is caused by clouds.

BBC

Most are not caused by dark matter.

The Economist

"This was a disaster caused by people".

The New York Times

Some were caused by unexpected developments overseas.

The New York Times

Genital herpes is caused by viruses.

The Economist

How was the accident caused by lightning?

The New York Times

Not all tsunamis are caused by earthquakes.

The Economist

Death is usually caused by cardiovascular disease.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "caused by", ensure the relationship between the cause and effect is clear and direct for better readability.

Common error

Avoid using "caused by" when the relationship is correlational rather than directly causal. Use phrases like "associated with" or "linked to" instead to indicate a less direct connection.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "caused by" functions as a prepositional phrase that indicates the agent or reason directly responsible for a specific outcome or condition. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is suitable for describing direct causation in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Wiki

28%

Encyclopedias

12%

Less common in

Science

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "caused by" is a common and grammatically correct way to indicate direct causation, as verified by Ludwig AI. It appears frequently across diverse sources, including news outlets, encyclopedias, wikis, and scientific publications. Usage patterns reveal its prevalence in news and media, and wiki content, making it a versatile phrase for explaining cause-and-effect relationships. When writing, ensure a clear and direct connection between the cause and effect for optimal clarity. While alternatives like "due to" and "resulting from" exist, "caused by" remains a straightforward and effective choice for indicating the origin of an event or condition.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

brought about by

Replaces "caused" with "brought about", emphasizing the action that led to the result.

stemming from

Indicates origin or derivation, replacing "caused by" with a phrase that suggests a more indirect causal link.

resulting from

Focuses on the outcome, replacing "caused by" with a phrase that highlights the consequence.

due to

A more concise alternative to "caused by", directly indicating the reason for something.

attributed to

Suggests that something is believed to be the cause, rather than stating it as a fact.

occasioned by

A more formal alternative, indicating that something was the reason or excuse for an event.

triggered by

Emphasizes that something was started or initiated by a specific event or factor.

prompted by

Suggests that something was encouraged or incited by a specific factor.

generated by

Highlights the production or creation of something as a result of a specific cause.

arising from

Indicates that something emerges or originates from a specific cause or situation.

FAQs

How to use "caused by" in a sentence?

Use "caused by" to indicate the direct reason or origin of an event or condition. For example: "The accident was "caused by" a driver's negligence."

What can I say instead of "caused by"?

You can use alternatives like "due to", "resulting from", or "brought about by" depending on the context.

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

"Caused by" and "due to" are both correct and often interchangeable. However, "caused by" emphasizes direct causation, while "due to" can also imply a less direct association.

What's the difference between "caused by" and "attributed to"?

"Caused by" suggests a definitive cause, while "attributed to" implies that the cause is a belief or an opinion, not necessarily a proven fact.