it only caused

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it only caused" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate that something resulted in a specific effect or consequence, often implying that the effect was limited or not as significant as expected. Example: "The changes in the policy were minor; it only caused confusion among the staff."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

It only caused 5% of deaths across the globe as a whole, but this is likely to rise as more cars take to the road in developing countries.

The Guardian

It only caused limited damage which is just as well because the alert system didn't work.

Vice

The authors state that, taking into account the low incidence, the overall impact of nosocomial BSI on the total study population was small as it only caused a decrease in overall survival of approximately 1%.

Critical Care

With higher concentration of LPS (5 μg/ml), it only caused a minor (5%) reduction of cell viability compared to the PBS controls without subsequence H2O2 exposure (First panels on the left in Figure. 1A and 1B).

BMC Genomics

The strain NIH12 is one of the most virulent serotype D strains tested in BALB/c mice (37 ); it only caused a chronic localized infection without dissemination in the human host.

Emerging Infectious Diseases

Like BH2 and in contrast to 4-amino-BH4, overnight incubation with 4-amino-BH2 did not affect the maximal activity with BH4; it only caused a rightward shift of the concentration response curve (EC50 to (1.0 ± 0.2) × 10 5 M, Figure 4B, Figure S2D, Supporting Information).

Biochemistry

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

Or would it only cause more problems?

The New York Times

Some experts say people should get results of their chemical or genetic tests only if medical treatments exist because otherwise it only causes anxiety.

The New York Times - Health

It only causes initial wake-up latency, which is still endurable.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

Thus, the effect of this resistance drift is cancelled in the next programming cycle and it only causes soft errors.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

Although the bug can grow at temperatures ranging from 5° to 45°C, it only causes disease within a few degrees of normal body temperature (37°C).

Science Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "it only caused", ensure that the limited impact is clear to the reader. This phrase works best when contrasting it with a potentially larger or more severe outcome that did not occur. For instance, "The earthquake was powerful, but it only caused minor damage".

Common error

Avoid using "it only caused" when the actual impact was significant. This phrase implies a minimal effect, so ensure the resulting effect aligns with this intention. Misusing it can mislead readers about the true severity or extent of the consequences.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it only caused" functions as a causal statement with a qualifier, indicating that something led to a specific result. It implies that the effect was limited or less significant than potentially expected. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

43%

News & Media

43%

Wiki

14%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it only caused" is used to indicate a causal relationship where the resulting effect is limited or less significant than might be expected. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and usable across different writing styles, with a neutral register. The phrase appears most frequently in scientific and news media sources. When using "it only caused", ensure that you accurately portray the limited scope of the consequence to avoid misleading your audience.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it merely triggered

Emphasizes the minimal impact, suggesting the action barely initiated something.

it simply resulted in

Focuses on the direct outcome, portraying it as a straightforward consequence.

it just brought about

Highlights the action as the immediate reason for the outcome.

it did no more than

Stresses the restrictive nature of the impact, indicating nothing further occurred.

it only gave rise to

Suggests the action initiated a subsequent event, nothing more.

it exclusively led to

Highlights that the action was the only reason or cause for the effect.

it uniquely produced

Stresses the action as the one and only event resulting in something.

it singularly created

Indicates the action alone gave origin to the effect.

it hardly affected

Focuses on the lack of great consequences or effects.

it scarcely influenced

Emphasizes the limited nature of its impact or influence.

FAQs

How can I use "it only caused" in a sentence?

Use "it only caused" to indicate that something led to a specific and often limited outcome. For example, "The error in the code was small; "it only caused" a minor glitch".

What are some alternatives to "it only caused"?

Alternatives include phrases like "it merely triggered", "it simply resulted in", or "it just brought about", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it grammatically correct to say "it only caused"?

Yes, "it only caused" is grammatically correct. It follows the standard subject-verb-adverb order in English sentences and is widely used in both formal and informal contexts.

What is the difference between "it only caused" and "it caused"?

"It only caused" emphasizes that the outcome was limited or not as significant as it could have been, while "it caused" simply states that something resulted from a specific action without implying the extent of the impact.