which caused him

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "which caused him" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it whenever you want to refer back to a specific cause or event that had an effect on someone. For example, "He became scared after the loud noise, which caused him to jump."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

In addition, Iran had filed an extradition request which caused him further concern.

The New York Times - Magazine

Unfortunately, he's just had the flu, which caused him to drop out last week in Houston.

The New Yorker

Of the knee complaint which caused him trouble against Porto, Richards said: "It's all right.

Independent

In the end, it was a dream which caused him to create the periodic table.

Independent

"He was then punched, which caused him to fall to the ground.

The Guardian

In the circumstances the source of the information which caused him to be observed was unimportant to petitioner's defense.

Cornell University

García did little to hide his disdain for the pin-placement which caused him so much trauma.

The Guardian - Sport

Porter has a history of hip pain, which caused him to miss the beginning of his rookie season.

The Washington Post

It was Morley's sympathy for Mary Hemingway's feelings which caused him to leave out the parts that literary history needs.

The Guardian - Books

He had a curious intuition which caused him to dig in unexpected places and come up with striking finds.

The New Yorker

He subsequently contracted syphilis, probably caught from a prostitute, which caused him much suffering and killed him at just 31.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To improve flow, consider rephrasing sentences using active voice constructions, such as "It caused him to...", when appropriate.

Common error

Avoid using "that caused him" when "which caused him" is more appropriate for nonrestrictive clauses that add extra information but are not essential to the sentence's meaning. A nonrestrictive clause is set off by commas.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "which caused him" functions as a relative clause, specifically a nonrestrictive (or nonessential) clause, that provides additional information about the noun or pronoun it modifies. The clause introduces an explanation of the reason or effect that led to a particular action or state for the male subject. Ludwig AI confirms that this is a grammatical and acceptable phrase.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Academia

25%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Science

5%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "which caused him" is a grammatically sound and frequently used relative clause to provide additional information about the cause and effect on a male subject. It's versatile and appropriate across various contexts, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. While it's important to understand its function to avoid errors like using "that" incorrectly, the examples show it's a reliable way to explain cause-and-effect relationships. When writing, keep in mind the option to restructure sentences for improved flow or clarity while maintaining the intended meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

that made him

Changes the relative pronoun and verb to a more direct causal statement.

as a result he

Indicates a direct consequence of a prior action or event.

that led him to

Emphasizes the sequential aspect of cause and effect.

that drove him to

Highlights the compelling nature of the cause.

that prompted him

Implies a more immediate instigation.

resulting in him

Uses a participial phrase to indicate the consequence.

which induced him

Suggests a persuasive or influential cause.

because of which he

Inverts the structure to place emphasis on the cause.

the reason he

Simplifies the construction by stating the reason directly.

due to which he

Similar to "because of which", but slightly more formal.

FAQs

How to use "which caused him" in a sentence?

Use "which caused him" to introduce a nonrestrictive clause that explains the reason or effect of something on a male subject. For example: "The loud noise startled him, which caused him to jump."

What can I say instead of "which caused him"?

You can use alternatives like "that made him", "resulting in him", or "due to which he" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "that caused him" instead of "which caused him"?

"Which caused him" is generally preferred for nonrestrictive clauses, while "that caused him" is used for restrictive clauses that are essential to the meaning of the sentence. However, "which" is becoming more accepted in both contexts.

What's the difference between "which caused him" and "it caused him to"?

"Which caused him" introduces a relative clause referring back to a previous event, whereas "it caused him to" starts a new independent clause. For instance: "The storm intensified, which caused him great anxiety" versus "The storm intensified; it caused him to worry."