tend to cause

USAGE SUMMARY

"tend to cause" is correct and usable in written English, and it can be used when talking about a certain thing having a tendency to proceed in a certain direction or lead to a certain result.
For example, "Lack of sleep tends to cause fatigue."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Some drugs tend to cause emotional swings.

The New York Times - Health

Deeper earthquakes tend to cause less damage at the surface.

The Guardian

This would tend to cause a deathly hush".

The Guardian - Arts

New or unfamiliar situations tend to cause the most anxiety.

The New York Times

Paparazzi shots in red-tops, by their nature, tend to cause red faces.

The Guardian

But even cases of written appropriation in politics tend to cause little fuss.

The New York Times

On the other hand, strong or chelating acids tend to cause leaching.

Advances in Catalysis

Clusters of iron are paramagnetic and, therefore, tend to cause local inhomogenities in a magnetic field.

NeuroImage

It is assumed that pressure concentrations tend to cause teat-end injuries and hyperkeratosis.

Journal of Dairy Science

Concrete and dark colors on walls and roofs tend to cause inferior thermal performance.

Energy Procedia

Apart from their cardiac actions, these glycosides tend to cause nausea and loss of appetite.

Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "tend to cause", ensure the subject clearly exhibits a pattern or predisposition towards the specified outcome. This phrase implies a probability, not a certainty.

Common error

Avoid using "tend to cause" when the outcome is guaranteed or inevitable. This phrase suggests a probability, so using it in cases of certainty is inaccurate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "tend to cause" functions as a verb phrase that indicates a probabilistic or habitual relationship between two events or entities. It suggests that one thing is likely to lead to or produce another, but not with absolute certainty. This is supported by Ludwig's analysis.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

30%

News & Media

30%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "tend to cause" is a grammatically correct and very common verb phrase used to express a probabilistic or habitual relationship between events. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is suitable for various contexts, especially in science, news, and academic writing. When using this phrase, remember that it implies a likelihood rather than a certainty, and it is vital not to overstate the certainty of the outcome. Related phrases include "are likely to cause" and "often lead to", offering alternative ways to express similar concepts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

are likely to cause

Replaces "tend to" with "are likely to", emphasizing probability.

are inclined to cause

Substitutes "tend to" with "are inclined to", suggesting a natural disposition.

have a tendency to cause

Rephrases "tend to" using the noun form "tendency", adding emphasis.

often lead to

Replaces the entire phrase with a more direct causal link using "lead to".

are apt to cause

Uses "apt to" instead of "tend to", denoting a susceptibility.

may result in

Indicates a possible consequence using "may result in".

can potentially cause

Highlights the potential for causation.

are prone to causing

Emphasizes a vulnerability or proneness to cause something.

generally induce

Uses "induce" to suggest a causal relationship, indicating that it generally produces the effect.

typically trigger

Replaces "cause" with "trigger", implying a catalyst effect.

FAQs

How can I use "tend to cause" in a sentence?

Use "tend to cause" to describe a common or likely result. For example, "Lack of sleep "tend to cause" fatigue" indicates that fatigue is a common consequence of sleep deprivation.

What are some alternatives to "tend to cause"?

You can use alternatives like "are likely to cause", "often lead to", or "may result in" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it always appropriate to use "tend to cause"?

No, "tend to cause" is best used when describing probabilistic relationships. If the outcome is certain, stronger causal language is more appropriate. It implies a likelihood rather than a certainty.

What is the difference between "tend to cause" and "cause"?

"Cause" implies a direct and definite relationship, while ""tend to cause"" suggests a probabilistic or habitual relationship. "Smoking causes cancer" is a stronger statement than "Smoking "tend to cause" cancer".