suspected cause

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "suspected cause" is grammatically correct and commonly used in written English.
It is typically used to refer to a potential reason or source of something that is being investigated or considered as a possibility. Example: The doctors could not determine the exact cause of the patient's illness, but a suspected cause was a rare allergic reaction to a medication.

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The suspected cause was a pulmonary embolism.

The New York Times

Mr. Schiavi said brake failure was the suspected cause.

The New York Times

The suspected cause was a pulmonary embolism, Elana Chrisman, a spokeswoman for Henry Ford Hospital, said.

The New York Times - Sports

The suspected cause of a fatal error performed by an operator in a steelworks factory is replicated in an experiment.

International Journal of Human-Computer Studies

The term "aircraft accident" means any aviation disaster, regardless of its cause or suspected cause, for which the National Transportation Safety Board is the lead investigative agency.

Cornell University

The leading suspected cause of SARS is a previously unknown member of the coronavirus family, which is thought to have originated in Guangdong Province.

The New York Times

The suspected cause of the deaths is a protozoan parasite, a paramoeba known to cause death in lobsters, crabs and sea urchins.

The New York Times

Texting has been the acknowledged — or a suspected — cause of a number of bad crashes, including a particularly gruesome one last year in upstate New York.

The New York Times

Still, Putin's spokesman insisted that the cancellation of Egypt flights did "not mean that a terrorist attack is the main suspected cause of the catastrophe".

The New Yorker

When a suspected cause for a devastating illness begins to slip away, there is often frustration and turmoil, paranoia and nihilism.

The New York Times - Magazine

Only this week a Swiss company was taken to the brink of bankruptcy by maverick bank behaviour: credit derivatives were the suspected cause.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "suspected cause", ensure you also indicate the level of certainty or evidence supporting the suspicion. For example, you might say "the suspected cause, though unconfirmed, is..."

Common error

Avoid presenting a "suspected cause" as a definitive explanation. Use qualifying language to indicate that it is still under investigation or not fully proven.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "suspected cause" functions as a noun phrase that identifies a potential reason or source for something. As indicated by Ludwig AI, it is used to refer to a potential origin that requires further investigation. The examples from Ludwig demonstrate its usage in contexts ranging from medical diagnoses to accident investigations.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

42%

News & Media

40%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

4%

Formal & Business

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "suspected cause" is a grammatically correct and frequently used expression, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. It serves to identify a potential origin or reason for a phenomenon, often implying that further investigation is necessary. As demonstrated by the examples from Ludwig, the phrase appears across diverse domains, including science, news, and academia, maintaining a neutral register. While it's important to use "suspected cause" when there's a reason to believe that something might be the origin of an event, it should not be presented as definitive explanation without sufficient evidence. Related phrases such as "potential cause" or "presumed reason" can be used as alternatives, depending on the context and the desired level of certainty.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

potential cause

Replaces "suspected" with a more neutral term, focusing on possibility rather than suspicion.

presumed reason

Shifts from "cause" to "reason", implying a logical inference.

alleged reason

Highlights the lack of proof or evidence, suggesting it is merely claimed.

possible origin

Focuses on the source or beginning of something, rather than the direct cause.

hypothesized factor

Introduces a scientific or theoretical perspective.

tentative explanation

Emphasizes the provisional nature of the explanation.

speculated factor

Highlights that the factor is based on conjecture.

believed trigger

Implies a direct action that initiated a sequence of events.

inferred determinant

Stresses the conclusion derived through reasoning.

rumored source

Indicates that the source is unconfirmed and potentially unreliable.

FAQs

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

You can use "suspected cause" to refer to a potential reason or source of something being investigated. For example: "The "suspected cause" of the outbreak is contaminated water."

What are some alternatives to "suspected cause"?

Alternatives to "suspected cause" include "potential cause", "presumed reason", or "alleged reason", depending on the context and level of certainty.

What is the difference between "suspected cause" and "confirmed cause"?

"Suspected cause" indicates a preliminary belief without solid proof, while "confirmed cause" implies that the reason has been definitively established through evidence.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "suspected cause"?

Use "suspected cause" when you have reason to believe something might be the origin of an event or condition, but you lack sufficient evidence for a definitive determination. It is appropriate when further investigation is needed.