decisive cause

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "decisive cause" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a factor or reason that has a significant impact on an outcome or event. Example: "The lack of funding was the decisive cause of the project's failure."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Therefore, it can be inferred that based on the evidence found, poor public goods (for example, law and order) provided in a country can be the decisive cause of the low rate of private investment in the country.

Journal of Innovation and Entrepreneurship

In many cases the primary disease is the decisive cause of the development of liver dysfunction; intravenous or even enteral nutritional support may be an aggravating factor.

Critical Care

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

A serious medical condition can be decisive; causing so many problems that continuing work is impossible.

BMC Health Services Research

The increased blood flow appears to be a decisive factor causing the increased 131I absorbed doses in the lemon-juice stimulation group.

EJNMMI Physics

The above findings demonstrate that the increased blood flow appears to be a decisive factor causing the increased absorbed doses in the lemon-juice stimulation group.

EJNMMI Physics

In its ruling, the appeal panel, headed by Fabrizia Francabandera, accepted one of the most controversial aspects of the indictment: that official reassurances were decisive in causing some of the quake victims to stay indoors.

Science Magazine

These parameters were decisive factors causing 80% of the treated plants to produce the desired recombinant GFP.

BMC Biotechnology

Alternatively, it may reflect reluctance to categorise patients with a negative diagnostic assessment as having definite non-cardiac pain, particularly when a less decisive option (uncertain cause) is available.

British Medical Journal

The campaign was perceived as a decisive Israeli victory, causing reorganizations in the Syrian high command and the birth of heroic tales in Israel.

Wikipedia

Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir, the reigning Olympic champions from Canada, took the silver medal; and Maia and Alex Shibutani, a sister-brother team of teenagers from the United States, took the bronze medal in part because an error by Bourzat in the decisive free dance caused the pair to fall and dropped the much more experienced French from third to fourth.

The New York Times

The decisive difference was caused by the more extensive search for tumour areas with negative slope in the entire tumour volume in centre A. This approach appears to be advantageous but is technically more challenging.

EJNMMI Research

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "decisive cause", ensure the context clearly establishes the link between the cause and its effect, providing evidence or reasoning to support the claim. This enhances the credibility and impact of your statement.

Common error

Avoid using "decisive cause" when the effect has multiple contributing factors. Instead, acknowledge other influences to maintain accuracy and avoid misleading readers. It's more precise to use phrases like "major factor" or "significant contributor" if the cause isn't definitively the sole reason.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "decisive cause" functions as a noun phrase that identifies a specific reason or factor as being the most important in leading to a particular outcome. It indicates a cause that effectively determines the result, as supported by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "decisive cause" is a grammatically correct noun phrase used to identify the primary or most important reason leading to a particular outcome. While Ludwig AI marks it as usable, its frequency is rare across various contexts, primarily appearing in scientific and news sources. When employing this phrase, ensure that you provide clear evidence to support the identified cause, avoiding overstatement without adequate backing. Alternatives like "key factor" or "primary reason" can be used depending on the context. In summary, "decisive cause" should be used judiciously and with sufficient support to maintain clarity and accuracy in writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

determining factor

Emphasizes the aspect that ultimately controls or establishes a result.

key factor

Highlights the importance of a specific element as a reason.

primary reason

Focuses on the main or most important reason for something.

main driver

Suggests the principal force or influence behind a particular outcome.

root cause

Indicates the fundamental reason why a problem or situation exists.

central reason

Highlights the reason considered to be the most important.

principal factor

Focuses on the most important element influencing a result.

critical reason

Emphasizes the importance of a specific reason.

ultimate explanation

Focuses on the final or most complete reason.

underlying reason

Suggests a less obvious but fundamental reason.

FAQs

How can I effectively use "decisive cause" in a sentence?

To effectively use "decisive cause", ensure that your sentence clearly links the cause to its effect, and that you provide sufficient evidence or reasoning to support your claim. For instance, "The lack of preparation was the "decisive cause" of the project's failure."

What are some alternatives to using the phrase "decisive cause"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases such as "key factor", "primary reason", or "main driver" to convey a similar meaning.

Is it appropriate to use "decisive cause" in formal writing?

Yes, "decisive cause" is appropriate for formal writing, especially when you need to emphasize a specific reason that led to a particular outcome. However, ensure that your claim is well-supported by evidence.

What's the difference between "decisive cause" and "contributing factor"?

"Decisive cause" implies that the factor was the primary or most important reason for the outcome, while "contributing factor" suggests that it was one of several reasons that played a role.