was expected to cause

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was expected to cause" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing predictions or assumptions about the effects or outcomes of an event or action. Example: "The new policy was expected to cause significant changes in employee productivity."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

42 human-written examples

Because so many asylum seekers arrive from France, today's announcement was expected to cause friction with Paris.

The New York Times

(The Democratic Party's inability to retain its majority in the Senate was expected to cause problems for Mr. Corzine.

The New York Times

Until now, he said, scientists could state that global warming was expected to cause more extreme weather, but not that it was to blame for any specific event.

The Guardian

By Wednesday, many polling stations said they had still not received ballots, and a new system for punching the ballots was expected to cause some confusion.

The New York Times

Shaken Assumptions For decades, scientists believed that the human dependence on fossil fuels, for all the problems it was expected to cause, would offer one enormous benefit.

The New York Times - Science

A more contentious proposal by Democrats to allow bankruptcy judges to modify loans on primary homes, which is widely opposed by Republicans and the mortgage loan industry, was expected to cause heated debate.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

18 human-written examples

Driverless cars are expected to cause a storm.

The Guardian - Tech

Cutting it back is expected to cause uproar.

The Economist

Illegal fishing is expected to cause extinction of the toothfish in two to three years.

The Guardian

Neither decision is expected to cause other carriers to follow suit.

The Guardian - Travel

But the sentences are expected to cause uproar among scientists worldwide.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "was expected to cause", ensure the context clearly indicates who or what held the expectation and on what basis.

Common error

Don't use "was expected to cause" without clarifying the source of the expectation. Instead of saying, "The policy was expected to cause problems", specify who expected it: "Analysts expected the policy to cause problems".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was expected to cause" functions as a causal connector, linking an event or situation with its anticipated consequence. As Ludwig AI confirms, it indicates a prediction or assumption about the effects of something. It describes a past belief about a potential outcome.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Wiki

14%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Reference

8%

Unknown

8%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "was expected to cause" serves as a way to link an event with a predicted outcome. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it indicates a past expectation or anticipation about the consequences of something. While grammatically correct and versatile, it's crucial to provide context about the source of the expectation for clarity. Alternatives like "was anticipated to lead to" or "was projected to result in" can add nuance. Usage ranges from news and media to scientific and formal contexts, as seen in Ludwig's examples, suggesting a neutral register and wide applicability. Remember to specify who held the expectation and on what basis to avoid vagueness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was anticipated to create

Replaces "expected" with "anticipated" and "cause" with "create", focusing on the anticipation of a resulting action.

was predicted to generate

Substitutes "expected" with "predicted" and "cause" with "generate", emphasizing a forecast of an outcome.

was foreseen to result in

Uses "foreseen" instead of "expected" and "result in" instead of "cause", highlighting a premonition about a consequence.

was projected to produce

Replaces "expected" with "projected" and "cause" with "produce", focusing on a forecast of a specific output.

was believed to bring about

Substitutes "expected" with "believed" and "cause" with "bring about", indicating a conviction about an effect.

was thought to lead to

Uses "thought" instead of "expected" and "lead to" instead of "cause", emphasizing a line of reasoning about a consequence.

was deemed likely to spark

Replaces "expected" with "deemed likely" and "cause" with "spark", highlighting an assessment of probability for initiating an action.

was considered to incite

Substitutes "expected" with "considered" and "cause" with "incite", emphasizing a contemplation of triggering a reaction.

was figured to precipitate

Uses "figured" instead of "expected" and "precipitate" instead of "cause", highlighting a calculation about an ensuing event.

was anticipated to instigate

Replaces "expected" with "anticipated" and "cause" with "instigate", focusing on the anticipation of initiating an event.

FAQs

How can I use "was expected to cause" in a sentence?

You can use "was expected to cause" to describe anticipated outcomes or consequences. For example, "The economic downturn "was expected to cause" a rise in unemployment".

What are some alternatives to "was expected to cause"?

Alternatives include "was anticipated to lead to", "was projected to result in", or "was predicted to generate". Each alternative conveys a similar sense of expectation or prediction.

Which is correct, "was expected to cause" or "is expected to cause"?

Both are correct, but they indicate different time frames. "Was expected to cause" refers to a past expectation, while "is expected to cause" refers to a current expectation.

What's the difference between "was expected to cause" and "was likely to cause"?

"Was expected to cause" indicates an anticipation based on certain information or beliefs. "Was "was likely to cause"" suggests a higher probability based on existing conditions or trends.