underlying cause of this

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "underlying cause of this" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing the fundamental reason or factor contributing to a particular situation or issue. Example: "The researchers are investigating the underlying cause of this phenomenon to better understand its implications."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

He explained: "If increased uncertainty were a key underlying cause of this depreciation, aggregate demand might be affected".

The Guardian - Business

The underlying cause of this phenomenon has not yet been well examined.

Journal of Theoretical Biology

The underlying cause of this debt glut is the $12tn of free or cheap money created by central banks since 2009, combined with near-zero interest rates.

The Guardian - Opinion

Rather, the underlying cause of this crisis is to be found in the character of the men and women who lead these institutions and in the nature of the corporate culture that reigns at each of them.

The New York Times

Ministers are clearly embarrassed by the failure of the much delayed project.An unstated but underlying cause of this expensive debacle is New Labour's schizophrenic attitude to anything which might be described as an identity card.

The Economist

We hypothesized that constitutive S1p2 desensitization is the underlying cause of this strong zebrafish developmental defect.

Duke University

The underlying cause of this is frequently not determined, but is not thought to be a result of infection.

Strategies in Trauma and Limb Reconstruction

The underlying cause of this inter-patient variability is best understood for EGFR-targeting kinase inhibitors in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) [5].

EJNMMI Research

We can only speculate as to the underlying cause of this result and further work will need to be completed in order to understand the causative factors.

Intensive Care Medicine Experimental

The underlying cause of this observation is unknown yet, but we can make use of it to simplify the decomposition process.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

2 Although identifying the underlying cause of this racial difference in outmigration behavior is beyond my scope, historical context suggests a natural explanation: that the same social forces that contributed to segregation within cities (see Massey and Denton 1993) also operated at larger geographic scales during the Great Migration period.

IZA Journal of Migration

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "underlying cause of this", ensure that the context clearly defines "this" to avoid ambiguity. For example, instead of "The underlying cause of this is unknown", specify: "The underlying cause of this market crash is unknown".

Common error

Avoid using "underlying cause of this" without sufficient evidence or analysis. Ensure your claim is supported by concrete data and logical reasoning, rather than speculation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "underlying cause of this" functions as a noun phrase that identifies the fundamental reason or origin behind a specific situation or problem. Ludwig AI provides examples where it introduces the core factor contributing to a phenomenon.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

51%

News & Media

32%

Formal & Business

7%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "underlying cause of this" is a common and grammatically correct way to refer to the fundamental reason behind a situation. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is widely used across diverse contexts, from scientific research to news reporting. While alternatives like "root cause of this" and "fundamental reason for this" exist, it is important to ensure that the referent of "this" is clear. Avoiding overgeneralization and supporting claims with evidence will strengthen your writing and analysis when using this phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

root cause of this

Replaces "underlying" with "root", emphasizing the fundamental or primary origin of the issue.

fundamental reason for this

Substitutes "cause" with "reason" and "underlying" with "fundamental", highlighting the basic rationale.

primary driver of this

Uses "driver" instead of "cause", suggesting a force that propels or influences the situation.

main contributing factor to this

Replaces "cause" with "contributing factor", indicating a significant element that influences the outcome.

basic reason behind this

Similar to "fundamental reason", but uses "behind" for a slightly different emphasis on what motivates the situation.

key factor responsible for this

Focuses on the element that is accountable or answerable for the situation.

principal reason for this

Replaces "underlying" with "principal", stressing the most important reason.

central cause of this

Highlights the centrality or core nature of the cause.

real reason for this

Implies that the actual or genuine reason is being revealed, potentially contrasting with perceived reasons.

true cause of this

Similar to "real reason", but emphasizes the authenticity or veracity of the identified cause.

FAQs

What does "underlying cause of this" mean?

The phrase "underlying cause of this" refers to the fundamental or root reason behind a particular problem, situation, or phenomenon. It implies a cause that may not be immediately obvious but is the primary driver.

How can I use "underlying cause of this" in a sentence?

You can use "underlying cause of this" to introduce the primary reason for something. For example, "The researchers aimed to identify the "underlying cause of this" disease outbreak."

What can I say instead of "underlying cause of this"?

Alternatives include "root cause of this", "fundamental reason for this", or "primary driver of this", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "cause of this" or "underlying cause of this"?

"Underlying cause of this" emphasizes a deeper, less obvious reason, while "cause of this" is a more general term. Use "underlying cause" when you want to highlight a fundamental, often hidden, factor.