which causes

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "which causes" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it in a sentence when you need to describe the result of a certain action or situation. For example: "The heavy rainfall, which causes flooding in the streets, has caused a huge amount of damage."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Which causes more depression and anxiety?

The New York Times - Magazine

Deforestation, which causes local warming, exacerbates this.

The Economist

Which causes do students find most compelling?

The New York Times

We now know that God plays dice, which causes uncertainty.

The New Yorker

Now you have chosen which causes to support this year.

The New York Times

Commuting is connected to social isolation, which causes unhappiness".

The New Yorker

There's iron, lack of which causes widespread anemia.

The New York Times

The company also agreed to make major changes at another plant to reduce emissions of nitrogen oxide, which causes smog, and sulfur dioxide, which causes acid rain.

The New York Times

They are expected to achieve a two-thirds reduction in emissions of sulfur dioxide, which causes acid rain, and nitrogen oxide, which causes smog.

The New York Times

Besides, for even, for, which causes instability.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

What bacteria are most closely related to Bacillus anthracis (which causes anthrax) or Clostridum botulinum (which causes botulism) or Treponema pallidum (which causes syphilis)?

Evolution: Education and Outreach

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "which causes", ensure the clause is nonrestrictive and set off by commas. This clarifies that the information is additional rather than essential to the sentence's meaning.

Common error

Avoid using "which causes" in restrictive clauses (essential to the sentence's meaning). In such cases, "that causes" is more appropriate. If the clause is essential and defines the noun, use "that"; if it adds extra information, use "which" with commas.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "which causes" functions as a relative clause, introducing additional, non-essential information about the noun it modifies. As Ludwig AI explains, this clause is set off by commas and provides further detail about the cause-and-effect relationship. It connects a cause to its subsequent effect.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

25%

Science

48%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

2%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "which causes" is a frequently used relative clause that serves to explain the cause of something. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically sound and appears most often in scientific and news-related contexts, while also showing up in wiki entries. When using "which causes", remember that it introduces nonrestrictive clauses (supplementary, non-essential information) and should be set off by commas. Alternatives include "that leads to" and "resulting in". Pay attention to the distinction between "which" and "that" to ensure grammatical accuracy.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

that leads to

Replaces "which causes" with a more direct causal link.

resulting in

Emphasizes the outcome or consequence.

that produces

Highlights the generative aspect of the cause.

giving rise to

Suggests a more gradual or developmental process.

that generates

Focuses on the creation or origination of the effect.

that triggers

Implies a sudden or immediate effect.

attributable to

Formal way to indicate causation or origin.

due to which

Inverts the structure while maintaining causality.

because of which

Similar to "due to which" but slightly more common.

that precipitates

Indicates a hastening or accelerating effect.

FAQs

How do I use "which causes" in a sentence?

Use "which causes" to introduce a nonrestrictive clause, providing additional information that isn't essential to the sentence's core meaning. Remember to set it off with commas.

What's the difference between "which causes" and "that causes"?

"Which causes" introduces nonrestrictive clauses (additional information, set off by commas), while "that causes" introduces restrictive clauses (essential information, no commas). For example, "The rain, which causes flooding, is heavy" vs. "The rain that causes flooding is dangerous".

What can I say instead of "which causes"?

You can use alternatives like "that leads to", "resulting in", or "that produces" depending on the context.

Is it grammatically correct to start a sentence with "which causes"?

Starting a sentence directly with "which causes" is generally grammatically incorrect. "Which" should refer back to a noun in the main clause. Restructure the sentence to include the noun before the "which causes" clause or consider alternative phrasings.