what can cause

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "what can cause" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you are asking about potential causes for something. For example: "What can cause a car to stop running suddenly?".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

34 human-written examples

What can cause that?

Yale University

So what can cause the explosions?

The Washington Post

What can cause sharp increases or decreases in fish populations?

The New York Times

What can cause such big variations in this test?

Harvard University

What can cause leaf tip scorch on redwood trees?

University of California, Berkeley

§ 370.10 What can cause my payments to be suspended?

Cornell University

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

26 human-written examples

It is just amazing what imagination can do – what it can cause to happen in the real world, and every day I'm proving and exploring how strong the products of one's mind can be.

The Guardian - Books

Many argue that more traditional liberal conceptions of the interests or rights that individuals have, and so of what activities can cause harm to them, is too narrow.

SEP

You know what else can cause significant behavioral change, sleep difficulties and school struggles?

HuffPost

We exploited the fact that IL-12 deficient F3 stage KLRG1+ CD8+ T cells fail to decrease CXCR3 and used these cells as an in vitro model system to directly interrogate what factors can cause CXCR3 downregulation.

eLife

Read an article about SIDS, and know what foods can cause harm to infants.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "what can cause", ensure the context clearly defines what you're seeking the cause of. For example, instead of just "What can cause?", specify "What can cause engine failure?"

Common error

Avoid using "what can cause" without a specific subject. Broad questions like "What can cause problems?" lack focus and can lead to vague or unhelpful answers. Always specify the subject for clearer results.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "what can cause" is to form an interrogative clause seeking potential explanations or reasons for a specific outcome. Ludwig shows various examples of its use in diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Academia

33%

Science

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "what can cause" serves as an interrogative tool to explore potential explanations or origins of a specific event or condition. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability across various contexts. While versatile, it is important to ensure the context clearly defines what you're seeking the cause of to avoid vague inquiries. As an alternative, phrases like "what leads to" or "what contributes to" can provide a nuance for exploring complex relationships between cause and effect.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

What are the reasons for

Focuses on the multiple reasons rather than a single cause.

What leads to

Emphasizes the progression or path to a particular outcome.

What factors contribute to

Highlights contributing factors instead of direct causes.

What is the source of

Highlights the origin point or beginning of a cause.

What is responsible for

Assigns responsibility or agency to a cause.

What brings about

Focuses on the act of causing something to happen.

What are the origins of

Explores the initial stages or development of a cause.

What triggers

Implies a sudden or initiating cause.

What is the etiology of

Inquires about the origin or cause, often in a medical context.

What underlies

Suggests a more fundamental or hidden cause.

FAQs

How can I use "what can cause" in a sentence?

Use "what can cause" to inquire about the possible reasons or origins of a specific event or condition. For example, "What can cause a sudden increase in blood pressure?"

What's a more formal way to ask "what can cause"?

In more formal settings, you could ask, "What factors contribute to" or "What is the etiology of". For example, instead of "What can cause this disease?", you can ask, "What is the etiology of this disease?"

Which is correct: "what can cause" or "what causes"?

Both "what can cause" and "what causes" are grammatically correct, but they have slightly different nuances. "What can cause" explores potential or possible causes, while "what causes" seeks the definitive cause or causes. See also "what leads to".

What are some alternatives to "what can cause" that imply a more gradual process?

Alternatives like "what leads to" or "what contributes to" suggest a more gradual or complex relationship between cause and effect. For example, "What leads to the development of chronic pain?"