may cause long

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "may cause long" is not correct and does not convey a complete thought in written English.
It could be used in a context where you are warning about potential long-term effects, but it needs to be completed for clarity. Example: "This medication may cause long-term side effects if taken continuously."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Acidification of cropland soils is a serious problem in China that may cause long term pH decline, which threatens the sustainability of soil fertility and crop yields.

Geoderma

It may cause long downtime, so downtime and complexity can be avoided [132].

Journal of Cloud Computing

This is because in the proposed FAST the nodes do not forward the message across the intersection that may cause long time to reach at destination node.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

If the multicast originator exchanges BAR and B-ACK frames with all multicast recipients (similarly to the BMMM approach), it may cause long transmission delay which is not appropriate for some applications (real-time multimedia streaming, gaming, etc).

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

These changes are not yet fatal, but they may cause long-term population declines.

The New York Times

We demonstrate that, even in simple configurations, this short-term spurious behavior may cause long-term divergence in global routing.

Princeton University

Levels of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are increasing in the environment and may cause long-term environmental problems.

Chemosphere

Animal studies suggest it may cause long-term damage to the brains of rats, but the evidence in people is inconclusive.

The Guardian

Objectives: Wound dehiscences after lower third molar surgery potentially extend the time of postsurgical treatment and may cause long-lasting pain.

Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology, Oral Radiology, and Endodontology

Xenobiotics may cause long-term adverse effects in humans, especially at the embryonic level, raising questions about their levels of exposure, combined effects, and crucial endpoints.

Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology

The illicit drug ecstasy may cause long-lasting nerve cell damage in the brains of heavy users, according to a report published yesterday by scientists at Johns Hopkins University.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always complete the phrase to clarify what "long" refers to, such as "long-term effects", "long delays", or "long processes". Avoid using it as a standalone phrase.

Common error

Avoid using "may cause long" without specifying what is "long". This can lead to ambiguity and weaken your writing. Always clarify the intended meaning by adding a noun, like "long delays" or "long-term consequences".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "may cause long" functions as part of a verb phrase, expressing potential causation. However, it is grammatically incomplete. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is not correct and requires completion to convey a complete thought. Examples often involve adding a noun to specify the effect (e.g., "long delays", "long-term effects").

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

25%

Academia

12%

Less common in

Wiki

13%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "may cause long" appears in various contexts, primarily in science and news, it is grammatically incomplete and requires a noun to specify what "long" refers to. As Ludwig AI underlines, the phrase should be avoided as is. Examples from Ludwig highlight the need to add nouns such as "delays" or "term effects" for clarity. Alternatives like "could result in lengthy" or "might lead to extended" can provide more precise and grammatically sound options. Always ensure the phrase is completed to avoid ambiguity and enhance the quality of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

could result in lengthy

Replaces "cause" with "result in" and "long" with "lengthy", focusing on consequence and duration.

might lead to extended

Uses "lead to" instead of "cause" and "extended" for a similar meaning but different phrasing.

can produce prolonged

Substitutes "cause" with "produce" and "long" with "prolonged", changing the tone slightly.

may bring about lasting

Emphasizes the enduring nature of the effect by using "lasting" instead of "long".

potentially induce considerable

Alters the phrase to highlight potential and significance of the impact.

possibly generate substantial

Focuses on the creation of something significant over a duration.

could trigger extensive

Shifts the focus to initiation and the breadth of the effect.

might foster protracted

Implies a gradual development over a considerable time.

can create significant

Highlights the creation of something significant, not necessarily in duration but in impact.

may precipitate far-reaching

Suggests an action that hastens an event with broad consequences.

FAQs

What does "may cause long" mean?

The phrase "may cause long" is incomplete and grammatically incorrect. It needs to be completed with a noun to specify what kind of "long" effect is being discussed (e.g., "may cause long delays", "may cause long-term effects").

How to use "may cause long" correctly in a sentence?

To use the phrase correctly, complete it with a noun that specifies what "long" refers to. For example, "This error "may cause long delays"" or "The drug "may cause long-term side effects"".

What are some alternatives to "may cause long"?

Alternatives include phrases like "could result in lengthy", "might lead to extended", or "can produce prolonged" depending on the intended meaning.

Is "may cause long" formal or informal?

Due to its grammatical incorrectness, "may cause long" is generally considered informal. It is best to use more precise and grammatically correct alternatives in formal writing to ensure clarity and professionalism.