could result in

USAGE SUMMARY

"could result in" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing possible outcomes, or when you are describing hypothetical situations. For example: "If air pollution levels continue to rise, it could result in more severe health problems for urban citizens."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

In turn, light ring year 1912 could be linked with Lolobau (1911), and Novarupta (1912 June 6) activity, whereas light ring year 1924 coincides with Raikoke (1924 February 15) eruption, and light ring 1976 could result from Tiatia (1973 July 14), Fuego (1974 October 17), Tolbachik (1975 July 6) or Augustine (1976 January 22) influence.

Dendrochronologia

This May, the Washington Post reported that construction there in preparation for the 2022 World Cup could result in 4,000 deaths.

HuffPost

After all, today's penny pinching could result in tomorrow's bountiful celebration.

Huffington Post

Last week, grid operators warned the phase-out could result in winter blackouts – a prospect Merkel scoffed at.

The Guardian

In 1999, the Institute of Medicine of USA [ 3] reported that preventable medication related events alone could result in 7000 deaths annually.

BMC Pediatrics

If we succeed, this could result in 2,000 carbon neutral secondary schools, enabling us to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 8 million tons over the next decade.

The Guardian

Diplomats said the United States was not yet proposing the creation of a joint United Nations naval force in the gulf, although something along those lines could result from today's proposal.

The New York Times

In particular, the 'alternate day fasting' regimen (i.e., 1 day feeding-1 day fasting, 1 1 IF), which is often used in rodent IF models, could result in underfeeding19,24.

Nature

Failure to do so could result in late payment fees and collections.

Duke University

It said seven or eight hours of steady rain was expected by Thursday, which could result in 20-40mm of rain at low levels, 60-80mm on the higher ground.

BBC

For example, different methods of composting wheat straw and labile agricultural waste could result in 40 50% mass loss upon composting (Verma et al. 2014); our results were comparable to these findings.

International Journal of Recycling of Organic Waste in Agriculture

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "could result in", ensure the context clearly establishes the relationship between the cause and potential effect. Avoid ambiguity by specifying both the action and its plausible consequence.

Common error

Avoid using "could result in" when the link between the action and outcome is weak or speculative. Instead, use more tentative language like "may suggest" or "might imply" to convey uncertainty.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "could result in" functions as a causal connector, linking a potential cause with a possible effect. It introduces a conditional relationship where the outcome is not guaranteed but is a plausible consequence. Ludwig's examples show this in contexts ranging from scientific findings to news reports.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

33%

Academia

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

5%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "could result in" is a versatile causal connector used to express potential outcomes or consequences. Grammatically correct and very common across various domains, it's particularly prevalent in news, science, and academic writing. As supported by Ludwig, using "could result in" implies a plausible but uncertain relationship between cause and effect. Remember to use this phrase when you want to suggest a potential outcome, but avoid it when describing certainties. Alternative phrases such as "may lead to" or "might cause" can be used to fine-tune the level of certainty in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

may lead to

Emphasizes possibility but with a slightly weaker sense of causality.

might bring about

Suggests a more direct and active causation.

can give rise to

Implies a more indirect or less predictable outcome.

has the potential to create

Highlights the inherent possibility and generative aspect.

may be conducive to

Suggests a facilitating or supportive role in bringing about the result.

could potentially trigger

Emphasizes the initiating or activating nature of the cause.

can be responsible for

Indicates a more direct attribution of cause and effect.

is liable to generate

Implies a tendency or likelihood of producing the result.

may contribute to

Suggests that the cause is one of several factors influencing the result.

is apt to produce

Indicates a natural or inherent tendency to create the result.

FAQs

How can I use "could result in" in a sentence?

Use "could result in" to indicate a possible outcome or consequence of an action or situation. For instance, "Increased pollution "could result in" respiratory problems".

What are some alternatives to "could result in"?

You can use alternatives such as "may lead to", "might cause", or "can give rise to" depending on the specific context.

Is it always appropriate to use "could result in"?

While grammatically correct, "could result in" should be used when the outcome is a plausible but not definite consequence. Avoid it if the outcome is certain or highly improbable.

What's the difference between "could result in" and "will result in"?

"Could result in" indicates a possibility, while "will result in" implies certainty. For example, "Taking precautions "could result in" fewer accidents" suggests a chance, whereas "Ignoring safety rules will result in accidents" states a definite consequence.