clear causal connection

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "clear causal connection" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the relationship between two events or phenomena, indicating that one directly influences or leads to the other. Example: "The study found a clear causal connection between air pollution and respiratory diseases in urban areas."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

But the inspectorate said on Tuesday: "The evidence that exists does not suggest any clear causal connection between the use of stop and search and reductions in crime".

The Guardian

This is certainly true for fossil fuel-related approvals, where there is a clear causal connection between each phase of the fossil fuel supply chain (production, transportation, processing, and end-use) and the emissions from these activities can be estimated with existing tools and data.

Columbia University

The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers Association says the companies are just complying with the F.D.A.'s requirement that they reveal all of a drug's risks, "even if a clear causal connection between the medicine and the observed adverse event cannot be fully established," a spokesperson for the group wrote in an e-mail.

The New York Times

When it comes to mass shootings, defenders of reporting on the suspect's background note that evidence of a "copycat" effect is scant: Though we seem to lurch from one such tragedy to the next, there are in fact too few of them and the human mind is too unknowable to be able to draw a clear causal connection from news coverage of any one crime to the commission of subsequent crimes.

Huffington Post

However, such events at these sites are not necessarily synchronous, most apparently being separated by several years, and thus there is no clear causal connection.

Plosone

AnxA1 was identified as a mediator of glucocorticoid-dependent anti-inflammatory processes (Lim & Pervaiz, 2007), which did not reveal a clear, causal connection with EMT/metastasis.

EMBO Molecular Medicine

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

Academic research found no clear causal link with financial performance.

The Economist

It isn't yet clear whether there is any causal connection.

The New Yorker

Because of a lack of research, it is not clear whether there is a causal connection yet, but it's a question worth exploring because the material can contain benzene, carbon black and lead and it's prevalent on the soccer fields at schools and parks across the country.

The Washington Post

Rather, structural relief, which is "designed to eliminate the monopoly altogether... require[s] a clearer indication of a significant causal connection between the conduct and creation or maintenance of the market power".

The New York Times

On an a priori basis, one might assume that it should be easy to demonstrate that positive psychological characteristics predict subsequent physical health, but upon reflection, it is also clear that it might be difficult to establish a causal connection.

Annals of Behavioral Medicine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "clear causal connection", ensure that the evidence supporting the relationship is strong and readily apparent. Avoid using it when the connection is merely speculative or correlational.

Common error

Avoid using "clear causal connection" when the relationship is only a correlation. Correlation does not imply causation, so ensure that there is a demonstrable mechanism linking the cause and effect before using this phrase.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "clear causal connection" functions as a noun phrase that describes a specific type of relationship. It emphasizes the clarity and directness of the cause-and-effect link between two elements. This is supported by Ludwig's examples where it's used to assess the validity of relationships, like between stop and search policies and crime reduction.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Academia

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "clear causal connection" is a phrase used to describe a direct and evident relationship between a cause and its effect. Ludwig indicates that it is grammatically correct but relatively rare. Its primary function is to assert or evaluate the validity of a causal relationship, often found in analytical contexts within news, science, and academic writing. When employing this phrase, ensure that the evidence strongly supports the connection and avoid using it when the relationship is merely correlational. Remember, correlation does not equal causation. As supported by Ludwig, while the phrase is correct and usable, the evidence supporting the relationship must be robust.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

evident cause-and-effect relationship

Replaces "causal connection" with "cause-and-effect relationship" and "clear" with "evident", emphasizing the obviousness of the relationship.

obvious causal link

Substitutes "connection" with "link" and "clear" with "obvious", maintaining a similar meaning.

distinct causal relationship

Uses "relationship" instead of "connection" and "distinct" instead of "clear", highlighting the separateness and clarity of the relationship.

direct causal effect

Replaces "connection" with "effect", emphasizing the direct impact of one thing on another and "clear" is omitted, still implying it.

unmistakable causal influence

Changes "connection" to "influence" and "clear" to "unmistakable", stressing the indisputable impact of the cause.

easily identifiable causal relationship

Replaces "clear" with "easily identifiable", focusing on the ease of recognizing the relationship.

proven causal link

Indicates that the causal relationship has been demonstrated or verified.

established causal connection

Emphasizes that the causal relationship is recognized and accepted.

well-defined causal relationship

Focuses on the precision and clarity of the causal relationship.

demonstrable causal effect

Highlights that the causal effect can be shown or proven.

FAQs

How can I use "clear causal connection" in a sentence?

You can use "clear causal connection" to describe a direct and evident relationship between two events or phenomena. For example, "The study demonstrated a "clear causal connection" between smoking and lung cancer".

What phrases are similar to "clear causal connection"?

Similar phrases include "obvious causal link", "evident cause and effect relationship", or "distinct causal relationship".

Is it appropriate to use "clear causal connection" in formal writing?

Yes, "clear causal connection" is appropriate for formal writing, especially in scientific, academic, and professional contexts where precise language is required.

What is the difference between "correlation" and a "clear causal connection"?

A correlation indicates a statistical association between two variables, while a "clear causal connection" implies that one variable directly influences the other. A correlation does not necessarily mean there's a direct cause.