examine the root cause

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "examine the root cause" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing the investigation or analysis of the fundamental reason behind a problem or issue. Example: "In order to improve our processes, we need to examine the root cause of the delays in our production line."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

To resolve the Palestinian situation, you have to examine the root cause and not get hung up on the desperate interim reactions of people like Hamas.

BBC

But it will be A crealcal start to dealing with the two "wars" ofailureine.

Huffington Post

Examine the root cause of your negative thoughts.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Kill him!" Mr ul-Haq said his main intention had been to examine the root causes of terrorism; he denied he was encouraging suicide bombing.

The Guardian

Mr ul-Haq said his main intention had been to examine the root causes of terrorism; he denied he was encouraging suicide bombing.

The Guardian

These disclosures add to the growing list of questions that must be addressed by the special commission President Obama has appointed to examine the root causes of the spill and recommend ways to prevent future catastrophes.

The New York Times

The group was convened to examine the root causes of JWST's problems.

BBC

He said: "It makes clear we must examine the root causes for low productivity levels - such as low business investment, lower than average exports, and declines in education standards". Jackie Baillie, Scottish Labour's economy spokeswoman said: "This is an important report that lays bare the scale of the SNP's mismanagement of our economy.

BBC

It requires us to think beyond prosecutions and guilty verdicts, and examine the root causes of violence.

HuffPost

If spouses are willing to sit down together and examine the root causes of the affair, it can lead them both to more fulfilling relationships.

Huffington Post

Begg's account goes back to his teenage years, around the time of the Gulf War in the early 90s, in an attempt to examine the root causes of what led him to seek his identity in Islam.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "examine the root cause", ensure that your analysis goes beyond surface-level symptoms and delves into the fundamental factors contributing to the issue. This often requires a thorough and systematic approach.

Common error

Avoid merely identifying symptoms without digging deeper into the underlying issues. "Examine the root cause" implies a comprehensive analysis, not a quick assessment.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "examine the root cause" functions as a directive or suggestion to investigate the fundamental reasons behind a problem or situation. It prompts a deeper analysis beyond superficial observations, aligning with the observation of Ludwig AI.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Academia

33%

Science

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "examine the root cause" is a directive to delve into the fundamental reasons behind an issue, encouraging a comprehensive analysis rather than superficial observation. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct and suitable for use in written English. While categorized as "Rare" in frequency, its application spans across contexts such as News & Media, Academia, and Science. When using this phrase, ensure that you're prepared to conduct a thorough investigation to uncover the underlying factors contributing to the situation. Alternatives like "investigate the underlying reasons" or "analyze the fundamental causes" can provide similar emphasis with slight variations in formality or focus.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

investigate the underlying reasons

Focuses on the investigation aspect, highlighting the search for the basic reasons instead of a superficial explanation.

analyze the fundamental causes

Emphasizes a detailed analysis of the primary causes, which is more formal.

determine the primary factors

Focuses on identifying the main elements contributing to a situation. Less emphasis on investigation.

explore the basic reasons

Implies a broader exploration of the reasons without necessarily focusing on direct causation.

uncover the deep-seated causes

Stresses revealing causes that are not immediately obvious or that are hidden.

identify the core drivers

Highlights the key forces that propel or influence a situation, more business-oriented.

get to the bottom of

An idiomatic expression suggesting a thorough investigation to find the true cause.

look into the origins

Shifts focus to the beginning or source of the issue, rather than its perpetuation.

delve into the etiology

A more technical and scientific term referring to studying the causes or origins of diseases or problems.

diagnose the source

Emphasizes a diagnostic approach, typically used when identifying the cause of a problem in a systematic way.

FAQs

How can I use "examine the root cause" in a sentence?

You can use "examine the root cause" to introduce a thorough investigation into a problem. For example: "To improve our processes, we need to examine the root cause of the delays in our production line."

What is a more formal way to say "examine the root cause"?

A more formal alternative is to "analyze the fundamental causes", which emphasizes a detailed and systematic investigation.

What's the difference between "examine the root cause" and "identify the problem"?

"Identify the problem" is a general term for recognizing an issue. "Examine the root cause" goes further, requiring a deeper analysis to understand the origins and underlying factors of the problem.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "examine the root cause"?

It's appropriate when you want to emphasize a comprehensive and in-depth investigation into the fundamental reasons behind a problem, rather than just addressing the symptoms.