indicate the cause

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "indicate the cause" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when you want to specify or point out the reason behind a particular event or situation. For example, "The data collected will indicate the cause of the increase in temperature." Alternative expressions include "show the reason," "identify the cause," and "point out the reason."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

20 human-written examples

Postmortems indicate the cause may have been adulterated cooking oil.

The Guardian

"We have no data to indicate the cause," Boggs says.

Stanford University

The authorities did not immediately indicate the cause of the accident.

The New York Times

A full postmortem is yet to be completed but initial assessments indicate the cause of death was a lack of oxygen to the brain leading to a heart attack, the court heard.

The Guardian

A preliminary autopsy did not indicate the cause of death, and the results of toxicological and microbiological examinations are expected within three weeks, said Diane Markunas, a spokeswoman for the Nassau County medical examiner, Dr. Tamara Bloom.

The New York Times

The colour of the urine, as well as cloudiness, precipitates, and particles in the urine, was believed to indicate the cause of the disorder.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

40 human-written examples

They were also able to indicate the causes of Fe and Mn accumulation potential failures.

Procedia Engineering

The results indicate the causes of the changes in terms of decoration, custom, family structure and policy.

Journal of Rural Studies

The survey households also indicate the causes of soil erosion.

Ecological Processes

The report did not indicate the causes of this increase in mortality, but raises concerns about obesity, untreated hypertension and untreated diabetes in the U.S. population.

Huffington Post

Fig.  2 shows further analyses that indicate the causes of heterogeneity for anaemia (93.7 %) and hyperlipidaemia (100 %) may be due to HTN.

BMC Nephrology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "indicate the cause", ensure that the context clearly establishes what is being indicated. For example, start with the effect before pointing to its underlying cause.

Common error

Avoid using "indicate the cause" when the evidence is preliminary or speculative. Instead, opt for phrases like "suggest a possible cause" to convey uncertainty.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "indicate the cause" functions as a verb phrase that introduces an explanation or identification of the reason behind a specific event or situation. As shown by Ludwig, this phrase highlights the relationship between an action and its underlying reason.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Academia

17%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "indicate the cause" serves to point out or identify the reason behind a specific event or situation. Ludwig AI indicates it is grammatically correct and predominantly used in news, scientific, and academic contexts. While "indicate the cause" is not as common as other similar phrases, it provides a clear and direct way to explain relationships, its usage is deemed correct. When using this phrase, ensure that the context is clear and that you have sufficient evidence to support your claims. This phrase's neutral register makes it suitable for a variety of settings, but it is particularly useful in formal and analytical contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

point to the reason

Changes the verb to 'point', suggesting direction towards the reason.

suggest the origin

Replaces 'indicate' with 'suggest' and 'cause' with 'origin', softening the certainty.

reveal the source

Substitutes 'indicate' with 'reveal' and 'cause' with 'source', emphasizing discovery.

specify the grounds

Uses 'specify' instead of 'indicate' and 'grounds' in place of 'cause', making it more formal.

determine the factor

Replaces 'indicate' with 'determine' and 'cause' with 'factor', implying investigation.

show the etiology

Employs 'show' instead of 'indicate' and 'etiology' for 'cause', which is more scientific.

designate the root

Changes 'indicate' to 'designate' and 'cause' to 'root', giving a sense of precision.

uncover the basis

Substitutes 'indicate' with 'uncover' and 'cause' with 'basis', focusing on discovery.

imply the reason

Uses 'imply' instead of 'indicate', making the statement less direct.

hint at the origin

Replaces 'indicate' with 'hint' and 'cause' with 'origin', suggesting a subtle clue.

FAQs

What does "indicate the cause" mean?

The phrase "indicate the cause" means to point out, suggest, or reveal the reason why something happened or is happening. It implies showing what factor is responsible for a particular outcome or situation.

How can I use "indicate the cause" in a sentence?

You can use "indicate the cause" in a sentence to explain what factor led to a certain result. For example, "The investigation aims to indicate the cause of the accident".

What are some alternatives to "indicate the cause"?

Some alternatives to "indicate the cause" include "suggest the reason", "reveal the source", or "point to the origin". These phrases can be used depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to use "indicate the cause" or "determine the cause"?

Whether to use "indicate the cause" or "determine the cause" depends on the context. "Indicate the cause" implies pointing out or suggesting a cause that is already somewhat apparent, while "determine the cause" implies a more thorough investigation to find the exact reason.