which is caused

USAGE SUMMARY

"which is caused" is correct and usable in written English.
This phrase is used to indicate the cause of a particular situation. For example: "The flooding in the area was extensive, which is caused by the storm that passed through the night before."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Initially, avian cholera, which is caused by bacteria, was suspected.

The New York Times

Chickenpox, which is caused by the varicella-zoster virus, has no cure.

Harvard University

They resemble leaf spots due to late blight, which is caused by a related pathogen.

Cornell University

Watch out for: The commonest illness here is diarrhoea, which is caused by poor food hygiene.

The Guardian - Travel

For example, vaccinia virus is used to prevent smallpox, which is caused by variola virus.

The New York Times

Another important leaf disease of tea plant is blister blight, which is caused by Exobasidium.

Nature

Huntington's disease, which is caused by a mutation in one gene, is present around the world.

The Guardian

The diagnosis was cholecystitis, which is caused by the presence of gallstones.

The New York Times - Sports

Leprosy, which is caused by bacteria, was one of the 10 diseases.

The New York Times - Health

The remaining 10percentt have a familial form of ALS, which is caused by an inherited genetic mutation.

Columbia University

Another form is vascular TOS, which is caused by compression of one or more veins or arteries under the collarbone.

Columbia University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "which is caused" to clearly establish a cause-and-effect relationship in your writing. This helps the reader understand the direct link between an action or event and its consequence.

Common error

Avoid using "that" instead of "which" when introducing a nonrestrictive clause. "Which" provides additional, non-essential information, whereas "that" introduces essential information. For instance, the sentence 'The disease that is caused by bacteria is treatable' implies that only some diseases caused by bacteria are treatable, whereas 'The disease, which is caused by bacteria, is treatable' provides extra information about the disease's cause.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "which is caused" functions as a relative clause introducing additional information about the cause of something. As Ludwig AI explains, it establishes a causal link. This phrase modifies a noun or noun phrase, providing more detail about its origin or reason for existence. Examples include 'avian cholera, which is caused by bacteria' and 'Huntington's disease, which is caused by a mutation'.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Academia

21%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

4%

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "which is caused" is a grammatically correct and frequently used phrase that introduces nonrestrictive clauses to explain the cause of something. As Ludwig AI confirms, it clearly establishes a cause-and-effect relationship. It's common in various contexts, including news, science, and academia. The phrase is best used to provide additional, non-essential information about a cause, and care should be taken to distinguish it from restrictive clauses using "that". Alternatives such as "resulting from" and "due to" can offer more concise options. This guide provides insights into its proper usage, common errors to avoid, and semantically related alternatives.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

that is caused by

Replaces "which" with "that", maintaining the same causal relationship and meaning.

resulting from

Uses a participial phrase to indicate the consequence of something.

stemming from

Indicates the origin or source of something.

due to

A prepositional phrase indicating causation.

attributable to

Suggests something can be assigned as a cause or origin.

brought about by

Indicates something has been made to happen or exist by something else.

triggered by

Implies a rapid or sudden causation.

a result of

Highlights the outcome or effect of a cause.

originating from

Focuses on the source or beginning of something.

because of

A common and direct way to express causation.

FAQs

How can I use "which is caused" in a sentence?

Use "which is caused" to add extra information about the cause of something in a nonrestrictive clause. For example, "The accident, which is caused by icy conditions, resulted in several injuries."

What are some alternatives to "which is caused"?

You can use alternatives like "resulting from", "due to", or "stemming from" depending on the context.

Is it always necessary to use "which is caused", or are there more concise options?

While grammatically correct, you can often achieve a more concise sentence by using alternatives. Instead of "the problem which is caused by the rain", try "the problem resulting from the rain".

What is the difference between "which is caused by" and "that is caused by"?

"Which is caused by" introduces a nonrestrictive clause, providing additional information. "That is caused by" introduces a restrictive clause, essential to the sentence's meaning. For example, "The disease, which is caused by a virus, is contagious" adds extra detail, while "The disease that is caused by a virus requires specific treatment" defines which disease is being discussed.