pivotal cause

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "pivotal cause" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a significant or crucial reason behind an event or situation. Example: "The pivotal cause of the project's failure was a lack of communication among team members."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

Spending a year, as he did in 2007, visiting 80 of the world's most arresting gardens for a BBC2 series sounds like a dream assignment to most, but it is evident that Don now views the stress of the 12-hour days and endless travel as a pivotal cause of his build-up of stress.

The Guardian

Gaydamak has always been known for his sharp tongue – he once described Olmert as 'stupid' – but he outdid himself last month when he declared his opinion on whether the annual Jerusalem Gay Pride march, which has become a pivotal cause for the religious right in the city, would go ahead on his watch.

The Guardian - Sport

From this point of view, the medication overuse can be considered the pivotal cause of the altered protein excretion.

The Journal of Headache and Pain

And yet Ballard somehow foresaw that Reagan would one day serve not only as president, but as a pivotal cause of deprivation and death among American children.

Vice

Metastasis is the most pivotal cause of mortality in cancer patients.

Plosone

Thus, an imbalance in dopamine systems may be a pivotal cause of tic disorders.

European Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

This suggests that intuitive judgments of responsibility can be graded even for pivotal causes.

Cognitive Science

Previously, extracranial dilatation was considered pivotal in causing migraine headache [1].

The Journal of Headache and Pain

A key inducer of cellular inflammatory responses, LPS, is pivotal in causing meningococcal sepsis [ 118].

Clinical Science

Many of these factors are pivotal in causing tissue destruction, either directly or indirectly.

Arthritis Research and Therapy

IL-1 is a major proinflammatory cytokine that mediates a multitude of local and systemic responses to infection and tissue injury and, as proved by the complete response of CAPS to IL-1 receptor blockade, is pivotal in causing the clinical features of this disease [ 52].

Arthritis Research and Therapy

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "pivotal cause", ensure the context clearly establishes a cause-and-effect relationship. This phrase is most effective when highlighting a specific, identifiable reason behind an outcome.

Common error

Avoid using "pivotal cause" in situations where multiple factors contribute to an outcome. This phrase is best reserved for instances where a single cause stands out as particularly significant.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "pivotal cause" functions as a noun phrase that identifies a crucial factor contributing to a specific outcome. As shown by Ludwig's examples, it is commonly used to pinpoint a significant reason behind a particular event or condition.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

75%

News & Media

23%

Formal & Business

2%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "pivotal cause" is a noun phrase used to identify the most significant factor contributing to a particular outcome. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct and most frequently appears in Science and News & Media contexts, denoting a neutral to formal register. While semantically similar alternatives exist, such as "key reason" or "critical factor", "pivotal cause" specifically emphasizes the decisive nature of the identified reason. When using this phrase, it's important to reserve it for situations where a single cause demonstrably outweighs other contributing factors to maintain clarity and precision in communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

key reason

Replaces "pivotal" with "key", simplifying the language while maintaining the core meaning of a crucial reason.

critical factor

Substitutes "cause" with "factor", broadening the scope to include contributing elements beyond direct causation.

major contributing factor

Emphasizes the significant contribution of the factor to the outcome.

primary driver

Shifts the focus to the driving force behind an event or trend.

central reason

Highlights the centrality of the reason in explaining the situation.

essential element

Focuses on the indispensable nature of the element for achieving a specific result.

fundamental basis

Highlights the foundational role of the cause.

decisive influence

Emphasizes the influence that ultimately determines an outcome.

root of the problem

Indicates the fundamental origin or source of an issue.

cornerstone

Highlights the fact that this is the basic building block.

FAQs

How can I use "pivotal cause" in a sentence?

You can use "pivotal cause" to highlight a significant reason behind an event or situation. For instance, "The lack of funding was the pivotal cause of the project's failure."

What are some alternatives to "pivotal cause"?

Alternatives include "key reason", "critical factor", or "primary driver" depending on the specific context.

Is "pivotal cause" the same as "important cause"?

While both phrases denote significance, "pivotal cause" suggests a more decisive or crucial role than "important cause". Something that is a "pivotal cause" often determines the outcome.

In what contexts is it appropriate to use "pivotal cause"?

The phrase "pivotal cause" is appropriate in contexts where a single, identifiable factor has a disproportionately large impact, such as in scientific explanations, historical analyses, or business reports.