primary cause of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "primary cause of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate the main reason or factor contributing to a particular outcome or situation. Example: "The primary cause of the decline in bee populations is habitat loss due to urban development."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"A Primary Cause of Partisanship?

Princeton University

The primary cause of those losses is well known.

The New York Times - Magazine

"Ian Kerr is not the primary cause of this.

The Guardian - Business

Primary cause of death was disease progression (10%).

Harvard University

Single-family housing was the primary cause of land conversion.

Landscape and Urban Planning

Hyperglycemia is considered a primary cause of diabetic vascular complications.

Nitric Oxide

The primary cause of male infertility was sperm quality problems.

Reproductive BioMedicine Online

Human factor is the primary cause of traffic accidents.

Travel Behaviour and Society

Redox imbalance is a primary cause of endothelial dysfunction (ED).

Free Radical Biology and Medicine

A primary cause of rising costs is longer sentences.

The New York Times

This was determined the primary cause of the accident.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "primary cause of", ensure that you can support your claim with evidence. Overstating a cause without proper backing can weaken your argument.

Common error

While identifying the "primary cause of" something is important, don't ignore secondary or contributing factors. A comprehensive analysis considers all relevant causes for a complete understanding.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "primary cause of" functions as a noun phrase, typically followed by the effect or outcome. It identifies the principal reason or factor responsible for a particular situation or event. Ludwig AI validates this usage across a variety of contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

56%

News & Media

37%

Academia

7%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "primary cause of" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to denote the main factor contributing to a specific outcome. As Ludwig AI confirms, its usage spans diverse fields, particularly science, news, and academia. While alternatives like "main reason for" or "leading cause of" exist, "primary cause of" maintains a slightly more formal tone. When employing this phrase, ensure you can substantiate your claim with evidence and avoid oversimplifying complex situations by neglecting secondary factors. It's all about clarity and accuracy in identifying the most significant driver behind any phenomenon.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

main reason for

Replaces "primary cause" with a more direct and common expression for the primary reason.

leading cause of

Substitutes "primary" with "leading", implying the most significant or prominent cause.

chief cause of

Uses "chief" instead of "primary", suggesting the most important or principal cause.

principal reason for

Combines "principal", and "reason", indicating the main reason or justification.

major contributing factor to

Focuses on the contribution of the factor, emphasizing its significance in the outcome.

key factor in

Highlights the importance of the factor, suggesting it is essential or crucial.

underlying cause of

Indicates a deeper, less obvious cause that contributes significantly to the issue.

root cause of

Suggests the fundamental or original cause from which other issues stem.

primary driver of

Emphasizes the driving force or main impetus behind a particular event or trend.

most important factor in

Directly states the factor's importance, making it clear that it is of utmost significance.

FAQs

How can I use "primary cause of" in a sentence?

You can use "primary cause of" to identify the main reason or factor contributing to a particular event or situation. For example, "The primary cause of the accident was speeding."

What are some alternatives to "primary cause of"?

Alternatives include "main reason for", "leading cause of", or "chief cause of", depending on the specific context.

Is it better to say "primary cause of" or "main cause of"?

Both "primary cause of" and "main cause of" are acceptable. "Primary cause" often suggests a more formal or scientific context, while "main cause" is generally more common in everyday language.

What's the difference between "primary cause of" and "a cause of"?

"Primary cause of" indicates the single most important factor, while "a cause of" simply identifies one contributing factor among potentially many.