that might cause

USAGE SUMMARY

The part of a sentence 'that might cause' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you are trying to express that something could cause a certain result. For example, "The lack of sunlight in the evening hours that might cause insomnia."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It is that word "central" that might cause a problem.

The New York Times

Avoid activities that might cause stress, such as work or emotional discussions.

Harvard University

Flickr allows users to tag images that might cause offence and these aren't publicly available.

The Guardian - Tech

"I don't want to say anything that might cause the public to panic," he said.

The New Yorker

Robinson does not want his team taking any chances that might cause it to lose momentum.

The New York Times - Sports

"What that might cause is some people to book some profits.

The New York Times

The complete history of the well is carefully scrutinized for evidence of any field practices that might cause formation damage.

Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering

One opinion that might cause some changes has come from Acting Gov.

The New York Times

Pre-empt any red flag areas that might cause doubts in the interviewer's mind.

The Guardian

To stop them from doing things that might cause them hurt or injury.

The Guardian

What is the physical basis of land transformations that might cause a PVHI?

Nature

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider using synonyms like "could lead to" or "may result in" for variety and to tailor the nuance to your specific context.

Common error

Ensure the "that" in "that might cause" has a clear and immediate antecedent. Ambiguous references can confuse the reader and weaken your argument. Be specific about what 'that' is.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "that might cause" functions as a relative clause introducing a potential consequence or result. It modifies a noun or noun phrase, indicating a possible effect or outcome, as confirmed by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

47%

Science

33%

Wiki

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

1%

Reference

1%

Academia

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "that might cause" functions as a relative clause to introduce potential consequences or results and is grammatically correct. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is widely used across various contexts. While highly versatile, ensure that the antecedent of "that" is clear to avoid ambiguity, and be specific about the potential outcome. Alternatives like "that could lead to" or "that may result in" offer subtle variations in meaning, allowing for nuanced expression. Its neutral register makes it suitable for diverse writing styles.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

that could trigger

Replaces "might" with "could" and "cause" with "trigger", suggesting a more immediate and forceful reaction.

that may lead to

Substitutes "might cause" with "may lead to", indicating a potential consequence or outcome.

that has the potential to cause

Adds emphasis on the potential or possibility of causation.

that may bring about

Uses "bring about" instead of "cause", implying a more significant or impactful result.

that could give rise to

Replaces "cause" with "give rise to", suggesting the beginning or origin of something.

that is liable to cause

Indicates a higher probability or likelihood of causation.

that might be responsible for

Shifts the focus to responsibility or agency in causing something.

that runs the risk of causing

Highlights the element of risk involved in the potential causation.

that has the ability to provoke

Replaces "cause" with "provoke", suggesting a deliberate or intentional effect.

that has a hand in causing

Suggests involvement or contribution in bringing about the result.

FAQs

How can I use "that might cause" in a sentence?

Use "that might cause" to introduce a potential consequence or result. For example, "Avoid activities "that might cause stress", such as work or emotional discussions."

What are some alternatives to "that might cause"?

You can use alternatives like "that could lead to", "that may result in", or "that could trigger", depending on the context.

Is there a difference between "that might cause" and "that will cause"?

"That might cause" indicates a possibility or potential, while "that will cause" suggests a certainty. Use "that might cause" when the outcome is not guaranteed.

How to make sure the sentence with "that might cause" is clear?

Ensure the antecedent of "that" is clear and unambiguous. Also, make sure the potential consequence is clearly stated to avoid confusion. For instance, clarify activities "that might cause injury" by specifying the type of injury.