the underlying factor is that

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "the underlying factor is that" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to introduce a key reason or explanation for a situation or phenomenon. Example: "In analyzing the economic downturn, the underlying factor is that consumer confidence has significantly decreased."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

A: I think the underlying factor is that the status quo is not sustainable and it's not acceptable.

The New York Times - Health

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Barry says the most significant underlying factor is that each state regulates insurance differently, and those regulatory differences account for some of the variations in the study's findings.

Huffington Post

One underlying factor is that US population growth has simply outstripped our ability to train surgeons, and this problem will only get worse as the baby boomers move into the cancer-incidence age-brackets over the next several years.

Annals of Surgical Oncology

All items had loading values greater than 0.40 and loaded on only one factor, suggesting that the underlying factors are meaningful.

Clinical interventions in aging

With the large degree of clustering of disorders in some individuals, it is possible that some other underlying factor is the main reason behind the predictive value of LBP.

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders

The underlying factor might be that this organizational model combines size of scale advantages with characteristics of strong primary care, such as high accessibility, continuity and coordination of care [ 16].

BMC Health Services Research

The concordance of the QTL between the two populations (one intraperitoneally injected and the other given a form of bath challenge) suggests that the main underlying factors are unlikely to be related to barrier function.

Heredity

The constructed, hypothesized A&S Qdomains, matched with that of the underlying factors that were found by the factor analysis, provided that the items of one hypothesized domain, distance estimation, were distributed over two factors, according to whether they related to near- or far-distance estimation (Table  1, Q 4-Q 13).

Graefe's Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology

Important underlying factors are the processes that anchor and embed otoconia within the otoconial membrane; these likely involve specific interactions between otoconial proteins and the matrix proteins of the acellular gel.

Plosone

The underlying factors that are influencing Malay reserve land owners against developing the land need to be further studied.

City, Territory and Architecture

These 6 variables, representing the 3 behavioural tests, were then submitted to obliquely-rotated (Oblimin direct) factor analyses to assess the underlying factors that are measured in the behavioural test battery.

Behavioral and Brain Functions

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "the underlying factor is that", ensure it introduces the most fundamental and explanatory reason for the situation you are describing. Avoid using it for secondary or less significant factors.

Common error

Avoid using "the underlying factor is that" when a simpler phrase like "because" or "the reason is" would suffice. The phrase is best suited for more complex or nuanced explanations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "the underlying factor is that" functions as a connector to introduce the primary reason or cause behind a situation or event. It signals that the following statement is the most fundamental explanation.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

34%

News & Media

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

33%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "the underlying factor is that" is used to introduce a primary cause or reason, often in complex situations where the explanation requires some analysis. While grammatically correct and usable, as Ludwig AI states, it is relatively rare, mostly used in scientific and news contexts. When writing, ensure it introduces a truly fundamental reason and that simpler alternatives aren't more appropriate. Related phrases like "the primary reason is" and "the main cause is" can often be used depending on the specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

the primary reason is

Replaces "factor" with "reason", focusing on the main cause.

the main cause is

Substitutes "factor" with "cause", emphasizing the principal reason.

the key reason is that

Adds "key" to emphasize the importance of the reason.

the principal cause is

Replaces "underlying factor" with "principal cause", indicating a major factor.

the root cause is that

Uses "root cause" to highlight the fundamental source of the issue.

the basic reason is that

Emphasizes the fundamental nature of the reason.

the fundamental reason is that

Highlights the essential nature of the reason.

the crucial element is

Focuses on the most critical aspect or element.

the core issue is that

Replaces "factor" with "issue", emphasizing the central problem.

the most important aspect is that

Highlights the supreme importance of an aspect.

FAQs

How can I use "the underlying factor is that" in a sentence?

Use "the underlying factor is that" to introduce a fundamental reason or cause. For example, "The underlying factor is that consumer confidence has significantly decreased".

What's a simpler alternative to "the underlying factor is that"?

You can use simpler phrases like "the main reason is", "the key issue is", or simply "because" depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use "the underlying factor is that" versus "the main reason is"?

"The underlying factor is that" is suitable when explaining a more complex situation requiring a deeper understanding of the root cause. "The main reason is" is appropriate for simpler explanations.

What are some phrases similar to "the underlying factor is that"?

Similar phrases include "the primary reason is", "the principal cause is", and "the root cause is that".