prominent cause

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "prominent cause" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a significant or leading reason behind an event or situation. Example: "The prominent cause of the recent economic downturn has been attributed to global supply chain disruptions."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Cardiovascular diseases had emerged as the most prominent cause of death in the decade (2002 2011).

BMC Public Health

The education, employment and general well-being of returning service members has become a prominent cause over the last year, largely because of Michelle Obama.

The New York Times

Williams, widely known for building one of the country's most notorious street gangs, had become even more famous for his prison transformation: he was the most prominent cause célèbre for death-penalty abolitionists since Caryl Chessman, the charming serial rapist and author who, after twelve years in San Quentin, went to the gas chamber in 1960.

The New Yorker

"The most prominent cause of death in a start-up is growth," said Mark Lipton, author of "Guiding Growth: How Vision Keeps Companies on Course" (Harvard Business School Press) and chairman of the organizational change management program at the New School for Social Research in New York.

The New York Times

"There is no doubt that the insurgency has benefited the wildlife in Kashmir," Javed Ahmad Panzoo, former regional wildlife warden for Kashmir, told IPS. "There are many reasons for it, but the decades- long conflict has also been a prominent cause".

The Guardian

Neonatal Encephalopathy (NE) is a prominent cause of infant mortality and neurodevelopmental disability.

Early Human Development

Lung involvement (notably, DAH) was the prominent cause for ICU admission, 70% of the patients requiring mechanical ventilation.

Annals of Intensive Care

With the expansion of human activities, human-dominated land cover conversion has become the most prominent cause of habitat fragmentation.

Landscape and Urban Planning

Cancer is one of the leading health hazards and the prominent cause of death in the world.

European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry

Adenoviruses are a prominent cause of respiratory, ocular, gastrointestinal, and disseminated diseases in healthy and immunocompromised children.

Journal of Clinical Virology

Bone metastases are a common feature of advanced genitourinary malignancies and a prominent cause of morbidity and mortality.

European Urology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "prominent cause", ensure that the context clearly establishes the effect or outcome that the cause is contributing to. For example, specify "prominent cause of death", or "prominent cause of failure".

Common error

Avoid using "prominent cause" when the cause is only partially responsible or when other factors play a significant role. Qualify the statement to accurately reflect the degree of causation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "prominent cause" functions as a noun phrase identifying a significant reason or factor contributing to a specific outcome. As shown in Ludwig AI, it's used to denote a noteworthy origin or driver in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

65%

News & Media

23%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "prominent cause" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression that identifies a significant factor contributing to a specific outcome. As Ludwig AI confirms, its versatility allows it to be used across various domains, including science, news, and formal business settings. While alternatives like "major contributing factor" or "leading reason" exist, "prominent cause" remains a clear and effective choice for denoting a noteworthy origin or driver. When using this phrase, ensure that the context clearly establishes the connection to the effect or outcome it influences to avoid overstating causation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

major contributing factor

Replaces "cause" with "contributing factor" and adds the adjective "major" for emphasis.

leading reason

Substitutes "cause" with "reason" and "prominent" with "leading".

main contributor

Similar to "major contributing factor" but uses "main" instead of "major".

key reason

Uses "key" to denote importance and replaces "cause" with "reason".

significant factor

Replaces "prominent" with "significant", indicating importance or consequence.

primary driver

Uses "driver" instead of "cause", suggesting something that propels or initiates.

chief factor

Replaces "prominent" with "chief", indicating the main or most important factor.

foremost reason

Uses "foremost" to highlight that the reason is at the front or most important.

principal source

Employs "source" in place of "cause", focusing on the origin or derivation.

central factor

Uses "central" to emphasize the core or essential nature of the factor.

FAQs

What does "prominent cause" mean?

The phrase "prominent cause" refers to a major or leading reason behind a particular event, issue, or phenomenon. It indicates a cause that is particularly noticeable or significant.

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

You can use "prominent cause" to identify a significant factor contributing to a specific outcome. For example, "Air pollution is a "major contributing factor" to respiratory illnesses."

What are some alternatives to "prominent cause"?

Alternatives to "prominent cause" include "leading reason", "primary driver", "chief factor", or "significant factor". The choice depends on the specific context and nuance you wish to convey.

Is "prominent cause" formal or informal?

"Prominent cause" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. Its use depends more on the subject matter than the setting.