instigating factor

USAGE SUMMARY

"instigating factor" is a correct and usable term in written English.
It is used to refer to the thing that started a particular event, or the cause behind a certain issue. For example: "The instigating factor behind the argument was the disagreement of the two parties about the division of the profits."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

"Beyond Rivalry, a Hidden World of Sibling Violence" (Feb. 28) fails to mention an instigating factor in the pinches, slaps and punches between siblings: physical punishment by parents, which teaches that aggression is the way to get one's needs met.

The New York Times

JC: Certainly my mother, who has never by choice been a public person, was really the instigating factor behind his advocacy, behind his thinking in terms of community and connecting with the place where we lived, and the issues of hunger and poverty being the most crucial issues of our time.

Huffington Post

Many chronic human diseases are of unclear origin, and persist long beyond any known insult or instigating factor.

Plosone

Furthermore, the instigating factor that pushed the network out of its normal basin of attraction might be long gone by the time the disease is investigated, contributing to the mystery surrounding its nature and origins.

Plosone

Regardless of the instigating factor, hypertrophic differentiation of chondrocytes induces a catabolic shift.

Arthritis Research and Therapy

Osteophytes are thought to be an early instigating factor in the OA causal pathway and their true prevalence is under estimated on radiographs [ 27].

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

As summarised in figure 3, instigating factors such as obesity, age, genetics, pregnancy and trauma may all contribute to mechanical impairment of the OGJ resulting in pathological reflux and accompanying syndromes.

Gut

Several alternative molecular forms of PrP are reasonable candidates for the neurotoxic species in prion diseases, although it is still too early to tell whether these or other ones will turn out to be the true instigating factors.

Neurobiology of Disease

Instigating factors, such as obesity, age, genetics, pregnancy and trauma may all contribute to mechanical impairment of the oesophagogastric junction resulting in pathological reflux and accompanying syndromes.

Gut

The mechanisms of SAE are unknown, but possible instigating factors may be the early activation of the innate immune response and microcirculatory dysfunction that are common manifestations of severe sepsis [ 6, 7].

Critical Care

High BMI and osteophytes are possibly the early instigating factors that predict increasing severity of meniscal tears and then change in meniscal tears is associated with other structural changes such as meniscal extrusion, cartilage volume loss and BMLs.

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "instigating factor", ensure it clearly identifies the primary cause or trigger of the situation you are describing. Be specific about what makes it the 'instigating' element.

Common error

Avoid treating the "instigating factor" as the sole cause. Acknowledge that other factors might contribute to the overall outcome, even if they are not the primary trigger.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "instigating factor" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject complement or object in a sentence. It identifies the primary cause or trigger of an event or situation, as evidenced by the Ludwig examples.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

43%

News & Media

43%

Formal & Business

14%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "instigating factor" is a grammatically correct and usable term in written English, as affirmed by Ludwig. It serves to denote the primary cause or trigger of a particular event or situation. While its usage frequency is uncommon, it appears most often in science and news contexts. Ludwig's analysis indicates that when employing this phrase, clarity and precision are paramount. Ensure that the factor is indeed the primary cause and not merely a contributing element. Alternatives include "triggering event" or "root cause", depending on the nuance you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

initiating event

Directly refers to the start or beginning of an action.

triggering event

Focuses on the event aspect, emphasizing the action that initiates something.

root cause

Highlights the fundamental reason why something occurs.

primary driver

Emphasizes the driving force behind an action or phenomenon.

catalyst

Implies something that speeds up or causes a reaction or event.

underlying cause

Stresses the hidden or less obvious reason behind something.

sparking incident

Suggests something that ignites or sets off a series of events.

precipitating event

Emphasizes the suddenness or abruptness of the triggering cause.

antecedent

Focuses on a prior event or cause.

motivating influence

Highlights the influence that drives an action.

FAQs

How can I use "instigating factor" in a sentence?

Use "instigating factor" to identify the primary cause or trigger of a particular event or situation. For instance, "The economic downturn was the "instigating factor" behind the company's decision to downsize".

What is a good alternative to "instigating factor"?

Alternatives include "triggering event", "root cause", or "primary driver". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "the instigating factor was because of"?

While understandable, it's more concise and grammatically sound to say "the instigating factor was" followed by the actual cause. Avoid using "because of" as it can be redundant.

What's the difference between "instigating factor" and "contributing factor"?

The "instigating factor" is the main trigger or starting point, while a "contributing factor" is something that adds to or influences the situation but isn't necessarily the primary cause.