what causes it

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "what causes it" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when inquiring about the reasons or factors behind a specific phenomenon or situation. Example: "I want to understand what causes it to rain so heavily." Alternative expressions include "what leads to it" and "what brings it about."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But what causes it?

The New Yorker

What causes it to change?

The New York Times

Nobody knows what causes it.

The Guardian

No one knows precisely what causes it.

The New York Times

Anyway, no one knows what causes it.

The New Yorker

What causes it is a puzzle.

The Economist

"The conflict is what causes it".

The New York Times

What causes it is still unclear.

The Guardian

But nobody has truly understood what causes it.

The Economist

What does that mean, and what causes it?

The New York Times - Tech

That is because nobody yet knows what causes it.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "what causes it", ensure the pronoun "it" clearly refers to a previously mentioned subject to avoid ambiguity. For instance, if discussing a disease, first mention the disease by name before asking, "What causes it?"

Common error

Avoid assuming that because two things occur together, one necessarily "causes" the other. Investigate thoroughly before concluding causation, as correlation does not equal causation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "what causes it" primarily functions as an interrogative clause, initiating a question about the etiology or reasons behind a specific phenomenon. Ludwig AI's examples show its widespread use in seeking explanations for various subjects, from diseases to economic issues.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "what causes it" is a frequently used, grammatically sound interrogative phrase used to inquire about the reasons or origins of something. As noted by Ludwig AI, it's commonly found in news, media, and scientific contexts. While versatile, remember to ensure the pronoun "it" has a clear referent to avoid ambiguity. Alternatives include "what is the reason for it" or "what factors contribute to it", depending on the desired level of formality and precision. While "what causes it" is widely used and accepted, being mindful of the potential for assuming correlation equals causation is important.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

what is the reason for it

Replaces "causes" with "reason for", focusing on the rationale behind something.

what are the origins of it

Substitutes "causes" with "origins", emphasizing the beginning or source of something.

what factors contribute to it

Replaces "causes" with "factors contribute to", highlighting multiple influences.

what is responsible for it

Uses "responsible for" instead of "causes", indicating accountability.

what brings it about

Replaces "causes" with the idiomatic "brings it about", suggesting a result.

what leads to it

Employs "leads to" instead of "causes", focusing on a sequential relationship.

what is the explanation for it

Replaces "causes" with "explanation for", seeking a detailed account.

what is the source of it

Uses "source of" instead of "causes", pinpointing the origin.

what underlies it

Replaces "causes" with "underlies", focusing on the fundamental basis.

how does it come about

Asks about the process of something happening, rather than the direct cause.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "what causes it" in a formal context?

In formal writing, consider using alternatives like "what factors contribute to it" or "what is the underlying mechanism" depending on the specific context.

What's a more direct synonym for "what causes it"?

A more direct synonym would be "what's the reason for it". Both phrases seek to identify the origin or explanation behind a particular event or phenomenon.

How to use "what causes it" in a sentence about climate change?

You could ask, "Climate change is a pressing issue, but "what causes it", and what can be done to mitigate its effects?"

Is "what causes it" appropriate for scientific writing?

While acceptable, scientific writing often prefers more precise language. Instead of "what causes it", you might use "what are the etiological factors" or "what mechanisms are involved".