direct causal link

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "direct causal link" is correct and commonly used in written English.
It refers to a direct relationship between two events, where one event directly causes the other to occur. Example: There is a direct causal link between smoking and lung cancer. (This means that smoking directly causes lung cancer to develop.).

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Manson doesn't recall quite such a direct causal link.

The Guardian - Music

There was, he said, a direct "causal link" between the movie and the murders.

The Guardian

According to the authors, the experiment suggests "a direct causal link between food advertising and greater snack consumption".

The New York Times

Of course, it is not possible to construct a direct causal link between any single weather event and climate change.

The Guardian

Inferring a direct causal link between climate change and any specific flood or hurricane is unscientific.

The Economist

But despite these statistics, no direct causal link has yet been established between the problems and ephedra use.

The New York Times

The violence graduation hypothesis assumes a direct causal link between animal cruelty and interpersonal aggression.

Aggression and Violent Behavior

Specialists in British criminal law said yesterday that any such investigation would almost immediately have foundered, since no direct causal link could be established.

The Guardian - Sport

The report appeared to be the first to draw a direct causal link between public corruption and armed conflict in South Sudan, the world's youngest country.

The New York Times

For those looking in from the outside, the direct causal link between these first 150 students and the proliferation of protest across the capital may seem unclear.

The Guardian - Opinion

At the moment the risk of a direct causal link between eating salmon and cancer or other health problems is perceived to be small.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "direct causal link", ensure that the evidence clearly supports the direct relationship without intervening variables or confounding factors.

Common error

Avoid assuming a "direct causal link" solely based on correlation. Correlation does not equal causation; further investigation is needed to establish a true causal relationship.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "direct causal link" functions as a noun phrase, typically used to describe a relationship where one event or variable directly influences another. This indicates a cause-and-effect relationship without intervening factors. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, this phrase is correct and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

56%

News & Media

37%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "direct causal link" is a commonly used term to describe a clear cause-and-effect relationship. As Ludwig AI confirms, its use is grammatically correct and it appears frequently in various contexts, especially in science, news, and business publications. The phrase emphasizes the absence of intervening variables between cause and effect, making it crucial to ensure sufficient evidence before asserting its existence. Remember, correlation isn't causation; further investigation is needed to establish a "direct causal link". Alternatives such as "clear causal connection" or "immediate cause-and-effect relationship" can be considered for stylistic variation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

clear causal connection

Highlights the clarity and unambiguous nature of the causal relationship.

straightforward causal relationship

Indicates a simple and easily understood causal link.

evident causal relationship

Emphasizes the obviousness of the causal connection.

immediate cause-and-effect relationship

Emphasizes the immediacy and clear connection between cause and effect.

unmediated causal path

Specifies that there are no intervening variables in the causal process.

demonstrable causal link

Suggests that the causal relationship can be proven or shown.

immediate determinant

Focuses on the immediate factor that determines an outcome.

proximate cause

Focuses on the most immediate or direct cause of an event.

unquestionable causation

Indicates that the causation is evident and difficult to dispute.

direct influence

Highlights a direct impact of one thing on another.

FAQs

What does "direct causal link" mean?

A "direct causal link" refers to a clear and immediate relationship where one event or factor directly causes another, without intervening steps or factors.

How do you use "direct causal link" in a sentence?

For example: "The study established a "direct causal link" between the new policy and the decrease in crime rates."

Is there an alternative to saying "direct causal link"?

Yes, you can use phrases like "clear causal connection", "immediate cause-and-effect relationship", or "straightforward causal relationship" depending on the context.

What's the difference between "direct causal link" and "correlation"?

"Direct causal link" implies that one thing directly causes another. "Correlation" only indicates a relationship between two things, but doesn't prove that one causes the other.