was the cause of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was the cause of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something led to a particular outcome or effect. Example: "The heavy rainfall was the cause of the flooding in the area."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

Cancer was the cause of death.

The New York Times

What was the cause of this pain?

The New Yorker

What was the cause of that problem?

The New Yorker

That was the cause of the issue.

Yale University

I ask "what was the cause of the problem?".

Stanford University

It was the cause of Senator Ted Kennedy's death.

University of California, Berkeley

What was the cause of this fecklessness and restless discontent?

The Guardian - Books

Who was the cause of all my loss and pain?

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

3 human-written examples

What is the cause of deflation?

Independent

What could be the cause of this?

Columbia University

E.g what is the cause of eclipse?

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "was the cause of" to clearly establish a direct causal relationship between events or conditions. Ensure the sentence structure leaves no ambiguity about which element caused the other.

Common error

Avoid assuming that because two events occur together, one necessarily caused the other. Always seek evidence to confirm that one event directly led to the other before stating that it "was the cause of".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was the cause of" functions as a causal connector, linking a specific event or condition to its direct origin. It establishes a clear relationship where one thing is identified as the reason behind another. This is supported by Ludwig AI, which confirms the phrase's correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Academia

23%

Science

23%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

6%

Wiki

2%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "was the cause of" is a frequently used phrase that serves as a direct causal connector. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness and wide applicability. The phrase is commonly found in News & Media, Academia, and Science, demonstrating its suitability across various registers, although it leans towards a more neutral, slightly formal tone. Remember to avoid correlation/causation fallacies when using the phrase to ensure accuracy and clarity. With its prevalent usage and clear function, "was the cause of" remains a valuable tool for establishing causal relationships in writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was responsible for

Indicates direct accountability or blame for an event or situation, implying a degree of agency.

was due to

A common and direct way to state the reason or cause of something.

resulted from

Focuses on the outcome as a consequence of a preceding action or condition.

was the reason for

Focuses on providing an explanation for why something happened.

stemmed from

Suggests an origin or root cause, often implying a gradual development of the effect.

arose from

Emphasizes the emergence or beginning of something as a consequence.

was a consequence of

Highlights the cause-and-effect relationship, often used in more formal contexts.

originated in

Points to the starting point or initial source of something.

was attributed to

Suggests that something is believed to be the cause, often based on circumstantial evidence or opinion.

was brought about by

Emphasizes the action that triggered the event, often implying a more active or deliberate cause.

FAQs

How can I use "was the cause of" in a sentence?

Use "was the cause of" to directly link an event or condition to its origin. For example, "The storm "was the cause of" the power outage" indicates the storm directly led to the outage.

What can I say instead of "was the cause of"?

You can use alternatives like "resulted from", "was due to", or "stemmed from" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Which is correct, "was the cause of" or "caused by"?

Both are correct but have different sentence structures. "Was the cause of" directly links the cause to the effect (e.g., "The rain was the cause of the flood"). "Caused by" places the effect first (e.g., "The flood was caused by the rain").

What's the difference between "was the cause of" and "contributed to"?

"Was the cause of" implies a direct and primary causal relationship. "Contributed to" suggests that something was one of several factors that led to a particular outcome, but not necessarily the sole or main reason.