mostly caused by

USAGE SUMMARY

'mostly caused by' is a grammatically correct phrase that is often used in written English.
You can use it when you want to indicate that something is largely or primarily the result of a specific factor or factors. For example, you might say, "The outbreak of the virus was mostly caused by people not following social distancing guidelines."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

55 human-written examples

Nine water rescues occurred along the I-44 corridor, mostly caused by Erin's rainfall.

Wikipedia

London's population boom is mostly caused by babies.

The Guardian

Ody's physical ailments were mostly caused by neurological decline.

The New York Times

She meant that the current flu was mostly caused by H3N2 viruses rather than H1N1.

The New York Times

Ms. Sterne argued that the losses were mostly caused by the parent company's poor marketing and distribution.

The New York Times - Arts

But the casualties were mostly caused by the rocket attack," Safwat Ghayyur, a police official, said in Peshawar.

The New York Times

"Wars are mostly caused by the Devil; certainly Hitler was consecrated to Satan, and Stalin," he said.

The New York Times

The bigger risk lies with a string of smaller bank failures, mostly caused by tumbling property values.

The Economist

The United Nations says that civilian casualties, mostly caused by the Taliban, are running at record levels.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

These changes are mostly caused by an imbalanced cytokine milieu, hyper-immune activation and collagen deposition leading to fibrotic LNs.

Seminars in Immunology

"I don't know if it's mostly caused by humans," he said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "mostly caused by", ensure that the context clearly indicates that other factors might also contribute, but the mentioned cause is the primary one.

Common error

Avoid using "mostly caused by" when the actual cause is uncertain or only partially understood. Instead, consider phrases like "may be related to" or "potentially influenced by" to indicate a degree of uncertainty.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "mostly caused by" functions as a causal connector, indicating the primary reason or origin of a particular event, condition, or phenomenon. As Ludwig AI shows, it is widely used to attribute a result to a significant, but not necessarily exclusive, cause.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

33%

News & Media

31%

Wiki

6%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "mostly caused by" is a commonly used causal connector that identifies the primary, but not necessarily exclusive, cause of a particular outcome. Ludwig AI confirms that it's grammatically correct and frequently employed across various domains, including news, science, and general discourse. While alternatives like "primarily attributed to" and "largely due to" exist, "mostly caused by" offers a clear and direct way to express causation, making it a valuable tool in both formal and informal writing. When using the phrase, ensure the context supports the attribution and be mindful of potential overstatements.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

primarily attributed to

This alternative emphasizes the primary source or reason for something, similar to "mostly caused by", but with a slightly more formal tone.

largely due to

This option focuses on the significant impact of a particular factor, akin to "mostly caused by", but highlights the extent of the influence.

mainly a result of

This variant stresses that something is principally the outcome of a specific cause, comparable to "mostly caused by", yet emphasizes the consequence.

predominantly resulting from

This phrase indicates the prevailing outcome from a specific factor. A slightly more formal alternative.

chiefly stemming from

This alternative highlights the main origin or source, similar to "mostly caused by", but suggests a developmental aspect.

principally arising from

This option denotes the main reason or beginning, comparable to "mostly caused by", but implies a gradual emergence.

generally brought about by

This emphasizes the overall effect produced by something, similar to "mostly caused by", focusing on how it was instigated.

substantially influenced by

This alternative highlights the considerable effect of something on the result. Differs from "mostly caused by" by referring to influence instead of direct causation.

significantly impacted by

This option suggests an important effect or change as a result of something; related to "mostly caused by" but referring to impact instead of causation.

considerably affected by

This indicates a notable change or influence, akin to "mostly caused by", but suggests a more passive reception of the effect.

FAQs

How can I use "mostly caused by" in a sentence?

Use "mostly caused by" to indicate that something is primarily, but not exclusively, the result of a particular factor. For example, "The traffic delay was mostly caused by the road construction".

What are some alternatives to "mostly caused by"?

You can use alternatives like "primarily attributed to", "largely due to", or "mainly a result of" depending on the context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "mostly caused by"?

Yes, the phrase "mostly caused by" is grammatically correct. Ludwig AI confirms its common usage in written English.

When is it inappropriate to use "mostly caused by"?

Avoid using "mostly caused by" if you are unsure about the primary cause or if multiple factors contribute equally. In such cases, consider using more general phrases like "influenced by" or "related to".