natural cause

USAGE SUMMARY

You can use "natural cause" in written English.
It usually refers to phenomena such as disease or natural disasters as opposed to those caused by human action or intent. For example, "The floods in the region were caused by a natural cause."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

43 human-written examples

We have however got there quicker than expected, and that is a natural cause for celebration.

The Guardian

"We are not surprised that the fire appears to have a natural cause," he added.

The New York Times

"He died of a natural cause," said Maj. Muhammad Aliyu, in his testimony today.

The New York Times

The earth floated on water; water was the natural cause of all things.

Encyclopedia Britannica

He added: "And I wish it was natural cause, but man, my gut tells me no.

Independent

"This is a natural cause of death," Edmund Donoghue, the county's chief medical examiner, said in a statement.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

17 human-written examples

Motor vehicle accidents are the largest contributor to organ donations after natural-cause deaths.

The Guardian - Tech

Some names were crossed out with Vietnam dates; some were annotated as natural-cause eliminations.

The New Yorker

Natural-cause theories also tend to emphasise that Alexander's health may have been in general decline after years of heavy drinking and severe wounds.

Wikipedia

b natural-cause mortality.

Environmental Health: A Global Access Science Source

BS and NO2 were significantly associated with natural-cause and respiratory mortality.

Environmental Health Perspectives

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing deaths, use "natural cause" to indicate that the death resulted from disease or old age, rather than external factors like accidents or violence.

Common error

Avoid using "natural cause" in highly formal or scientific reports where a more specific term might be appropriate. For instance, instead of stating a patient died of "natural cause", specify the disease or condition that led to their death.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "natural cause" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as a subject complement or object of a preposition. As Ludwig AI points out, it denotes an event or condition arising from natural processes, rather than human intervention.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

56%

Wiki

4%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

1%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "natural cause" is a commonly used noun phrase that describes events or conditions resulting from natural processes, rather than human intervention. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and widely used across various contexts, including news, science, and encyclopedias. While versatile, it's important to consider the context and choose more specific terminology when appropriate, especially in formal settings. When looking for alternative phrases, consider options like "organic reason" or "inherent factor". Understanding these nuances will help you use "natural cause" effectively and accurately in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

organic reason

Replaces "natural" with "organic", emphasizing the inherent, non-artificial aspect of the cause.

inherent factor

Shifts the focus to an intrinsic element that leads to a specific outcome.

spontaneous origin

Emphasizes the unprompted and unplanned nature of the beginning of something.

biological basis

Highlights a cause rooted in the living organism's processes.

ecological factor

Connects the cause to environmental conditions and relationships.

physical driver

Uses "physical" to specify material or energetic causes within systems.

elemental source

Highlights a basic or fundamental cause.

intrinsic trigger

Focuses on the internal mechanism that sets off a chain of events.

environmental determinant

Replaces the phrase with a focus on the environmental conditions that establish an outcome.

innate reason

Implies that the cause is part of the fundamental nature of something.

FAQs

How is "natural cause" used in a sentence?

You can use "natural cause" to describe the reason for an event that isn't caused by humans. For example, "The doctor confirmed that the patient's death was due to a "natural cause"."

What's an alternative to saying "natural cause"?

Alternatives to "natural cause" include phrases like "organic reason", "inherent factor", or "spontaneous origin". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it appropriate to use "natural cause" in a formal setting?

While generally acceptable, using more specific medical terminology in formal medical or scientific contexts is often preferable to the broad term "natural cause".

Can "natural cause" apply to events other than death?

Yes, "natural cause" can describe any event not directly caused by human action. For example, referring to a forest fire started by lightning as a "natural cause".