is the cause of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "is the cause of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate a relationship where one thing leads to or results in another. Example: "The increase in pollution is the cause of many health problems in urban areas."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

What is the cause of deflation?

Independent

Ours is the cause of freedom.

The New York Times

Economic growth is the cause of them.

The Guardian

What is the cause of this problem?

Harvard University

E.g what is the cause of eclipse?

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

What is the cause of plate tectonics?

Britannica

What is the cause of this stress?

Harvard Business Review

What's particularly revealing is the cause of the breakdown.

The New York Times

The recession is the cause of the price flip-flop.

The New York Times

What do you think is the cause of this trend?

The New York Times

The heliport is the cause of some shaking too.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

For stronger writing, replace "is the cause of" with more descriptive verbs like "triggers" or "precipitates" to add nuance.

Common error

Avoid using "is the cause of" when other factors are at play. Instead of saying "stress is the cause of all illnesses", acknowledge other contributing elements by saying "stress is a significant contributing factor to many illnesses".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "is the cause of" functions as a causal connector, establishing a direct relationship between a cause and its effect. It's used to explicitly state the origin or reason behind a particular situation, as demonstrated in Ludwig examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Academia

25%

Science

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "is the cause of" is a common and grammatically correct causal connector used to directly link an event or situation to its origin. As indicated by Ludwig, it's widely used across various contexts, including News & Media, Academia, and Science. While versatile, it's important to ensure that the causal relationship is clearly supported by evidence and to avoid oversimplifying complex situations. For more formal or nuanced writing, alternatives like "is due to" or "stems from" may be more appropriate. When using this phrase, be mindful of overstating causality and acknowledge other contributing factors when necessary.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is the reason for

Directly states the rationale or explanation behind something.

is due to

A more formal and direct way of stating causality.

is attributed to

This phrase implies assigning responsibility or origin, often used when the cause is not definitively proven.

is a consequence of

Emphasizes the resulting effect, presenting the cause as a prior condition.

results from

This phrase focuses on the outcome rather than the source, reversing the perspective.

is brought about by

Suggests a more active or deliberate causation.

stems from

This suggests a more gradual or indirect origin, implying a process of development.

originates from

Highlights the starting point or source of something.

is triggered by

Implies a specific event or condition that initiates the effect.

is produced by

Focuses on the mechanism or process that generates the effect.

FAQs

How can I use "is the cause of" in a sentence?

Use "is the cause of" to clearly state the reason or origin of a particular outcome or situation. For example, "The lack of funding "is the cause of" the project's delay."

What are some alternatives to "is the cause of"?

You can use phrases like "results from", "is due to", or "stems from" to express causality in different ways.

Is it always appropriate to use "is the cause of" in formal writing?

While generally acceptable, consider using more precise language in formal contexts. For instance, instead of "lack of investment "is the cause of"", you might say "lack of investment contributed to".

How does "is the cause of" differ from "contributes to"?

"Is the cause of" implies a direct and primary relationship, while "contributes to" suggests a partial or contributing factor among others. Using "contributes to" acknowledges that multiple factors may be involved.