straightforward cause

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "straightforward cause" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing a clear and direct reason or explanation for an event or situation. Example: "The straightforward cause of the accident was the driver's failure to stop at the red light."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

To cite just one example of dozens: "In major organized criminal investigations there is not an obviously straightforward cause and effect.

The New York Times - Books

His enormously productive efforts to enlist public policy in the simple, straightforward cause of feeding hungry people everywhere spanned more than half a century, from his championing of food stamps as a young Congressman in the late nineteen-fifties and his service as director of President Kennedy's Food for Peace program, all the way through his long Senate career and beyond.

The New Yorker

Broken Social Scene's more straightforward "Cause = Time" for example was fine, but "Almost Crimes" with its many instruments and harmonies was a hopeless mess.

TechCrunch

But chairman of the USCCB Committee on Migration Bishop Eusebio Elizondo said in a press statement, border justice is, at least religiously, a straightforward cause.

Huffington Post

The longitudinal increase but low prognostic value of most memory cells may have a straightforward cause: these cells simply accumulate as the immune system learns; they are just biomarkers of age.

Aging Cell

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

He sounds infectiously, incongruously chipper as he says this, cheerfully laughing at the straightforward cause-and-effect relationship between the album's reception and his reaction to it.

The New Yorker

To guarantee clear messages for decision makers, the number of key uncertainties was low: this allowed to show straightforward cause-and-effect chains and to point out the environmental effect of the different policies applied (Geneletti, 2012).

Ecological Processes

So if she reads a headline that says, "I stopped eating wheat and lost 15 pounds," it seems like a fairly straightforward cause-effect and she skips the article, retaining only the headline.

Huffington Post

Within PDSA, straightforward cause-and effect process mapping through Ishikawa or other diagrams could engage providers at all educational levels, and enable critical staff buy-in within resource-limited healthcare institutions.

Globalization and Health

What might at first seem a straightforward cause-and-effect relationship is, on further investigation, much more complex – and this pattern is typical for many studies of the causes of obesity.

DMM Disease Models and Mechanisms

It would be easy to explain Keats's preoccupation with death by assigning it a straightforward biographical cause.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "straightforward cause" when you want to emphasize the simplicity and directness of a reason, helping your audience quickly grasp the connection between an event and its origin.

Common error

Avoid using "straightforward cause" when discussing situations with multiple contributing factors. Oversimplifying complex issues can lead to misunderstandings and inaccurate conclusions. Use it judiciously when the relationship is genuinely simple and direct.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "straightforward cause" functions primarily as a noun phrase, typically serving as a subject complement or object in a sentence. As Ludwig AI points out, it denotes a clear and easily understood reason for something.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

5%

Wiki

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "straightforward cause" is a noun phrase used to denote a clear and easily understood reason or explanation. While grammatically correct and found in various sources like news, science, and business, it is a relatively rare expression. Ludwig AI confirms that its purpose is to simplify understanding by presenting a direct and uncomplicated link between cause and effect. When using this phrase, ensure that the cause is genuinely simple and direct to avoid oversimplifying complex issues. Consider alternatives like "obvious reason" or "clear reason" for similar meanings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

obvious reason

Replaces "straightforward" with "obvious", emphasizing the ease of understanding.

clear reason

Substitutes "straightforward" with "clear", highlighting the lack of ambiguity.

simple explanation

Replaces both words to emphasize the uncomplicated nature of the explanation.

direct reason

Substitutes "straightforward" with "direct", emphasizing the absence of intermediaries.

plain cause

Uses "plain" to convey the simplicity and lack of complexity of the cause.

uncomplicated reason

Emphasizes the lack of complexity by using "uncomplicated".

apparent cause

Highlights the readily visible nature of the cause.

evident reason

Similar to 'apparent cause', focuses on the obviousness of the reason.

easily understood cause

Expands the phrase to explicitly state the ease of understanding the cause.

self-evident cause

Stresses that the cause is so obvious that it requires no proof or explanation.

FAQs

What does "straightforward cause" mean?

A "straightforward cause" refers to a clear, simple, and easily understood reason or explanation for something.

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

You can use it to describe the direct reason for an event, such as: "The "clear reason" for the delay was a flat tire".

What are some alternatives to "straightforward cause"?

Alternatives include "obvious reason", "clear reason", or "simple explanation", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

When is it appropriate to use "straightforward cause"?

It's appropriate when the reason is genuinely simple and direct. Avoid using it for complex situations where multiple factors are at play as it might be an oversimplification.