instrumental in causing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "instrumental in causing" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe someone or something that plays a significant role in bringing about a particular outcome or event. Example: "Her research was instrumental in causing a breakthrough in cancer treatment."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

29 human-written examples

Injury to individual leaves may be instrumental in causing the sugar excess in such cases.

Britannica

To Handel, it would make sense that singers were instrumental in causing his works to be revived.

The New York Times

But the sequence of events suggests rather strongly that Bush had been instrumental in causing it to fail.

The New Yorker

Techniques developed by experimental hematologists are central to these efforts and have been instrumental in causing radiobiologists to consider that a paradigm shift is necessary.

Experimental Hematology

Many of his theories were rejected by other scientists, but these theories were still instrumental in causing a major reevaluation of the concepts governing gene function.

Encyclopedia Britannica

She came into a certain prominence recently when an article she wrote for Scribner's was instrumental in causing the Treasury Department to modify its policy in the matter of allotting oversubscribed issues of government bonds.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

31 human-written examples

It was the worst drought in the instrumental record, causing widespread crop failure and a mass migration of farming families to urban centres.

The Guardian

Halle Berry and Jennifer Garner were also instrumental in this cause, helping to get the Senate Bill 606 passed, aiming to protect the privacy of children of public figures.

Huffington Post

The Hersholt award, academy President Cheryl Boone Isaacs said, is granted to those who are "instrumental in humanitarian causes" and who "bring a spotlight and public awareness to certain issues".

Los Angeles Times

One individual who could prove instrumental in the cause is President Barack Obama, who, reports say, is privately content with the notion that EFCA is now off the legislative table.

Huffington Post

The temporal variations of measured spectral intensity and tropospheric opacity, which are attributed to the instrumental problems, caused systematic error in the O3 retrieval.

Earth, Planets and Space

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "instrumental in causing", ensure the subject is a clear and identifiable factor that directly contributes to the result. Avoid using it for vague or indirect relationships.

Common error

Avoid using "instrumental in causing" when the subject only had a minor or indirect influence. Use weaker terms like "contributed to" or "involved in" to accurately reflect the level of impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "instrumental in causing" functions as a prepositional phrase, typically modifying a noun or verb. It highlights the significant role or influence of something in bringing about a specific outcome or event. This phrase is often used to emphasize the importance of a particular factor in a causal relationship. Ludwig confirms this usage through numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

9%

Wiki

6%

Formal & Business

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "instrumental in causing" is a common and grammatically sound way to express that something has played a significant role in bringing about a particular outcome. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is versatile and appears in various contexts, including news, science, and academic writing. While it maintains a formal tone, it’s crucial to avoid overstating the level of influence and to ensure a direct causal relationship. Alternative phrases like "key in bringing about" or "essential for triggering" can be used depending on the nuance you want to convey. Use it wisely to highlight significant contributions and maintain clarity in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

key in bringing about

Replaces "instrumental" with "key" and restructures the phrase, emphasizing the importance of the role.

essential for triggering

Substitutes "instrumental" with "essential" and "causing" with "triggering", highlighting the necessity of the action.

significant in generating

Replaces "instrumental" with "significant" and "causing" with "generating", focusing on the impact and creation aspect.

played a vital role in

Uses a more verbose structure to express the importance of the role, replacing "instrumental" with "played a vital role".

was crucial to inciting

Replaces "instrumental" with "crucial" and "causing" with "inciting", giving a sense of urgency and initiation.

pivotal in the development of

Shifts the focus to development, replacing "causing" with a broader concept of progress or evolution.

a major factor contributing to

Emphasizes the contributory aspect, suggesting that it was one of several elements.

heavily responsible for

Directly assigns responsibility, making it a stronger statement than simply being instrumental.

a driving force behind

Implies active influence and energy, replacing "instrumental" with a more dynamic description.

had a hand in sparking

Uses an idiomatic expression to convey involvement in initiating an event.

FAQs

How can I use "instrumental in causing" in a sentence?

Use "instrumental in causing" to indicate that something or someone played a key role in bringing about a particular result. For example: "His research was "instrumental in causing" a breakthrough." Ensure the relationship between the subject and the outcome is direct and significant.

What can I say instead of "instrumental in causing"?

You can use alternatives like "key in bringing about", "essential for triggering", or "significant in generating" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is there a difference between "instrumental in causing" and "contributed to causing"?

"Instrumental in causing" implies a more significant and direct role, whereas "contributed to causing" suggests a less prominent or partial contribution. Use "instrumental" when the subject was a primary factor.

When is it inappropriate to use the phrase "instrumental in causing"?

Avoid using "instrumental in causing" if the connection between the subject and the outcome is weak, indirect, or speculative. Also, avoid it when the subject's role was minor or incidental. In those cases, use a more appropriate phrase like "played a part in" or "was associated with".