that led to

USAGE SUMMARY

"that led to" is correct and usable in written English.
It is used to refer to something that was the cause or result of something else. For example, "His failure to complete the project on time led to his demotion."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

That led to more research that led to more discoveries.

Evolution: Education and Outreach

that led to.

Huffington Post

Complications that led to fatalities were assessed.

BMC Infectious Diseases

That led to overbuilding.

The New York Times

That led to chaos.

The Economist

That led to fourth down.

The New York Times

That led to limited sanctions.

The New York Times

That led to harsh austerity.

The Economist

That led to designing interiors.

The New York Times

That led to his resignation.

The New York Times - Sports

That led to 28 arrests.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "that led to" to clearly establish a cause-and-effect relationship between two events or actions. Ensure the connection is logical and evident to the reader.

Common error

Avoid using "that led to" in excessively passive constructions, which can obscure the actor or agent responsible for the outcome. Instead, prioritize active voice to clarify who or what caused the result.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "that led to" functions as a causal connector, linking a preceding event or action to its subsequent result or consequence. Ludwig provides many examples to demonstrate this usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Science

20%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

2%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "that led to" serves as a crucial causal connector, effectively linking events and actions with their consequences. As Ludwig AI confirms, its grammatical correctness and versatility render it suitable for diverse writing contexts, from news reporting to academic research. Predominantly found in News & Media, it also appears in scientific and academic writings, maintaining a neutral register across applications. When writing, it is important to use "that led to" to clearly show cause-and-effect relationships, and to avoid passive constructions to keep the writer responsible for the action. Alternatives like "that resulted in" can add nuance, but ultimately, "that led to" remains a reliable and widely understood phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

that resulted in

Focuses more directly on the outcome or consequence.

that caused

Emphasizes the action that brought about the result.

that brought about

Highlights the process of causing something.

that gave rise to

Suggests a more gradual development or emergence.

that triggered

Implies a sudden or immediate cause-and-effect.

that prompted

Indicates a motivating factor behind the result.

that instigated

Implies initiating or setting something in motion.

that generated

Focuses on the creation or production of something.

that fostered

Implies nurturing or encouraging a particular outcome.

that contributed to

Suggests being one of several factors leading to the result.

FAQs

How can I use "that led to" in a sentence?

Use "that led to" to connect an action or event with its consequence. For instance, "The company's innovative marketing strategy "that led to" a significant increase in sales."

What are some alternatives to "that led to"?

Alternatives include phrases like "that resulted in", "that caused", or "that brought about", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it grammatically correct to start a sentence with "That led to"?

While grammatically correct, starting a sentence with "That led to" might sound less formal. Consider rephrasing for a smoother flow in academic or professional writing.

What is the difference between "that led to" and "which led to"?

"That led to" usually introduces essential information, while "which led to" introduces non-essential, additional information. For example, "The experiment "that led to" the discovery was groundbreaking" (essential) versus "The experiment, "which led to" the discovery, was funded by the government" (additional information).