mere consequences of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "mere consequences of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something is simply a result or outcome of a particular cause or action, often implying that it is not significant or important on its own. Example: "The delays in the project were mere consequences of poor planning and lack of communication among team members."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Space and time are mere consequences of these laws.

The Economist

Headlines about the collapse of BHS and the horrific conditions at Mike Ashley's Sports Direct have understandably shocked people, but these aren't mere consequences of one or two rogue businessmen, but the symptoms of rapacious capitalism.

The Guardian

Estimates for age group ≥70 years were not included as the rates of cataract were almost universal (98%) among them and assumed to be mere consequences of the aging process.

Global Health Action

At this stage, it is not known whether elevated levels of IL-1β and IL-18 are causes or mere consequences of chronically elevated BP and/or its disease sequelae such as vascular remodelling, atherosclerosis and renal dysfunction.

British Journal of Pharmacology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

For a new development agenda to be truly transformative, governments need to shift away from treating social issues as a mere consequence of economic growth.

The Guardian

Gravitation, in this line of thinking, is not a force the outcome of one object tugging on another, as described by Isaac Newton's equations but a mere consequence of geometry.

The New Yorker

Whether somatic chromosomal alterations and aneuploidy are a driving force or a mere consequence of tumorigenesis remains controversial.

Mutation Research-Fundamental and Molecular Mechanisms of Mutagenesis

Even if the minimum was detected in several experiments, it was not highlighted or it was considered as a mere consequence of the scattering of experimental data.

International Journal of Solids and Structures

This Review summarizes and discusses the evidence that metabolism is not a mere consequence of, but rather influential on stem cell fate.

Trends in Cell Biology

They revealed a polymorphism of bulged-out residues showing clearly that their conformation is not a mere consequence of crystal packing.

Journal of Molecular Biology

This suggests that transnational political activities cannot be seen as a mere consequence of migrants' present socioeconomic positions, but relate to migrants' long term plans.

Comparative Migration Studies

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "mere consequences of" to downplay the significance of results, suggesting they are simple and expected outcomes rather than important developments.

Common error

Avoid using "mere consequences of" when the results are actually significant or have far-reaching implications. This can create a tone that undermines the importance of the situation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "mere consequences of" functions as a modifier, specifically used to qualify a noun phrase by indicating that the consequences being described are simple, expected, or perhaps insignificant results. Ludwig AI shows this usage consistently across examples.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

60%

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "mere consequences of" is a phrase used to downplay the significance of outcomes by portraying them as simple and expected results. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically sound and frequently found in scientific and news contexts. The phrase serves to diminish the perceived importance of certain results, often in comparison to other more significant factors. When writing, it's important to ensure that it aligns with the tone and does not undermine the true significance of the situation, so it’s more proper to use it when the result is really unimportant.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

simple results of

Replaces "consequences" with "results" and "mere" with "simple" to indicate a basic outcome.

plain outcomes of

Substitutes "consequences" with "outcomes" and "mere" with "plain" to suggest a straightforward result.

sheer effects of

Replaces "consequences" with "effects" and "mere" with "sheer" to emphasize the impact.

basic results of

Uses "basic" instead of "mere" to denote a fundamental outcome.

just outcomes of

Emphasizes fairness by using "just" in place of "mere", suggesting a fair resolution.

direct effects of

Focuses on the straightforward nature of the results by using "direct" instead of "mere".

pure products of

Conveys the idea of unadulterated results by using "pure" instead of "mere" and replacing "consequences" with "products".

straightforward results of

Highlights the uncomplicated nature of the result by using the word 'straightforward'.

uncomplicated effects of

Underscores simplicity, indicating that the effects are not complex.

elementary outcomes of

Highlights the fundamental aspect of the outcome. Emphasizes that the outcomes are not complex or advanced.

FAQs

How can I use "mere consequences of" in a sentence?

Use "mere consequences of" to indicate that certain outcomes are simply the expected or unimportant results of something else. For example, "The delays were "mere consequences of" poor planning."

What phrases are similar to "mere consequences of"?

Similar phrases include "simple results of", "plain outcomes of", and "sheer effects of". These alternatives also suggest that the results are basic or expected.

When is it appropriate to use "mere consequences of"?

It's appropriate when you want to downplay the importance or significance of certain results, indicating they are simple and expected outcomes. Be careful not to minimize genuinely significant outcomes.

Is it correct to say "just consequences of" instead of "mere consequences of"?

Yes, "just consequences of" can be used, but it often implies fairness or deservedness, whereas ""mere consequences of"" simply suggests something is a simple or unimportant result. The choice depends on the intended nuance.