for what cause

USAGE SUMMARY

"For what cause" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to ask why something is the case. For example, "For what cause do you think this happened?".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

For what cause would you die?

The Guardian

If so, for what cause and why?

The New York Times

For what cause was Remsburg so profoundly harmed, his life forever altered?

The Guardian - Opinion

When young Arthur is informed that he is king of the land, Malory has him say, "Wherefore I... and for what cause?" Ackroyd better conveys the boy's tongue-tied shock: "Me?

The New York Times - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

For what causes?

The New York Times

For what causes were they arrested and sentenced?

The Guardian

As for what causes abrupt climate change, Alley says that "nobody know what the triggers are".

The New York Times - Magazine

There was no immediate explanation for what caused the line to fall at about 10 a.m.

The New York Times

Nor is there a concerted attempt to account for what caused them.

The Guardian

Over lunch in Arlington, McCain had given the stock explanation for what caused last summer's difficulties.

The New Yorker

"You want the simple one-sentence explanation for what caused Isis?" the London-based writer asked.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "for what cause" to introduce a question about the motivation or justification behind an action or belief. It is effective in formal writing or when seeking a deeper explanation.

Common error

Avoid using "for what cause" in casual conversation or informal writing. Simpler alternatives like "why" or "what's the reason" are often more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "for what cause" functions as an interrogative prepositional phrase. It introduces a question seeking the reason or justification for something. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's used to ask why something is the case.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

"For what cause" is a prepositional phrase used to inquire about the reasons or motivations behind an action or situation. While grammatically correct, Ludwig indicates that its usage is relatively rare and is generally appropriate in formal or neutral contexts, particularly within news and media. Simpler alternatives like "why" or "what's the reason" are often preferred in informal settings. When using "for what cause", ensure that the context warrants a more formal or inquisitive tone. Overall, it's a valid but not frequently used phrase for seeking explanations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

what is the reason for

Replaces "cause" with "reason", focusing on explanation.

what is the purpose of

Substitutes "cause" with "purpose", highlighting intention.

why is it done

Simplifies the phrase to a direct question about motivation.

what motivates this

Focuses on the underlying motivation or driving force.

what's the justification for

Emphasizes the need for a valid reason or defense.

on what grounds

Highlights the foundation or basis for something.

what are the reasons behind

Asks for a detailed explanation of the underlying reasons.

what's the rationale

Replaces the phrase with a more formal term for underlying logic.

what's the incentive

Highlights the motivations behind doing something.

what's the objective

Shifts the focus to the intended outcome or aim.

FAQs

How can I use "for what cause" in a sentence?

You can use "for what cause" to inquire about the reason or justification behind something, like in the sentence "For what cause was this decision made?"

What's a simpler way to ask "for what cause"?

Instead of "for what cause", you could simply ask "why?" or "what's the reason?" depending on the context.

Is "for what cause" formal or informal?

"For what cause" is more formal. In less formal contexts, using "why" is generally preferred.

What are some phrases similar to "for what cause"?

Similar phrases include "what is the reason for", "what is the purpose of", or "on what grounds".