which may cause

USAGE SUMMARY

"which may cause" is a correct and usable part of a sentence in written English.
You can use it when describing the potential consequences of a particular action or situation. For example: "Eating too many sugary snacks, which may cause cavities, can lead to health problems later in life."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Be prepared for aftershocks, which may cause additional damage.

Stanford University

Many elders chew betel nut, which may cause oral cancer.

The New York Times

Hyperinsulinism reduces blood sugar levels, which may cause coma.

Encyclopedia Britannica

There were more mixed economic signals yesterday, which may cause doubts to linger about the outlook.

The New York Times

My Week With Marilyn is expected to begin production in September, which may cause scheduling difficulties.

The Guardian - Film

Rain is heavy at times, which may cause some localized flooding.

The Washington Post

Overdischarge can lead to ISCr, which may cause thermal runaway during cycling.

Nature

Conventional electrolytes are highly flammable and volatile, which may cause catastrophic fires or explosions.

Nature

Such are the arguments (and others of the kind) which may cause difficulty on this point.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Otherwise, you may find yourself feeling hungry at a party, which may cause you to overeat.

Harvard University

Moreover, current 2D pose estimators are usually inaccurate which may cause errors in the 3D estimation.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "which may cause", ensure that the 'which' clause is nonrestrictive and adds extra information, not essential to the sentence's core meaning. Use commas to set off the 'which' clause.

Common error

Avoid substituting "which" with "that" in nonrestrictive clauses. "That" is generally used for restrictive clauses that are essential to the sentence's meaning, while "which" introduces additional, non-essential information. Using "that" incorrectly can alter the intended meaning.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "which may cause" functions as a relative clause introducing a potential consequence or result. Ludwig AI indicates this phrase is grammatically correct and common in English writing, it allows writers to express probabilistic cause-and-effect relationships.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

38%

News & Media

33%

Academia

19%

Less common in

Wiki

7%

Encyclopedias

1%

Formal & Business

0.8%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "which may cause" introduces a nonrestrictive clause to explain a potential consequence, is grammatically correct, and enjoys widespread use across diverse contexts according to Ludwig. While adaptable, it's crucial to differentiate it from "that may cause", which introduces restrictive clauses. Alternatives like "which can cause" or "that could cause" offer subtle variations in probability. Primarily found in scientific, news, and academic sources, "which may cause" maintains a neutral register. Common errors involve misusing "that" instead of "which". To effectively use the term, remember that "which" introduces non-essential information with commas. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness and its frequency in various sources.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

which can cause

Replaces 'may' with 'can', suggesting a higher probability of the consequence occurring.

which might cause

Substitutes 'may' with 'might', indicating a slightly lower probability or more uncertainty.

that could cause

Changes 'which' to 'that' and 'may' to 'could', resulting in a slightly more informal tone.

potentially causing

Uses a gerund phrase to express the potential cause, altering the sentence structure.

that has the potential to cause

Expresses the potential cause more explicitly, making the phrase longer and more formal.

which leads to

Indicates a direct consequence or result, implying a stronger connection than 'may cause'.

resulting in

Focuses on the outcome rather than the potential cause, shifting the emphasis of the sentence.

with the possibility of causing

Highlights the possibility of a cause, making the phrase more cautious and less direct.

that may give rise to

Replaces 'cause' with 'give rise to', offering a more formal and literary alternative.

which has the likelihood of causing

Adds emphasis to the probability of causing. It's also more verbose and descriptive.

FAQs

How to use "which may cause" in a sentence?

Use "which may cause" to introduce a nonrestrictive clause that explains a potential consequence or result of something mentioned earlier in the sentence. Always use a comma before "which".

What can I say instead of "which may cause"?

You can use alternatives like "which can cause", "which might cause", or "that could cause" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "which may cause" or "that may cause"?

"Which may cause" and "that may cause" can both be grammatically correct, but they function differently. "Which may cause" introduces a nonrestrictive clause, while "that may cause" introduces a restrictive clause. Choose the appropriate one based on whether the clause is essential to the sentence's meaning.

What's the difference between "which may cause" and "which results in"?

"Which may cause" indicates a potential cause-and-effect relationship, while "which results in" indicates a direct consequence. The first suggests a possibility, while the second implies a certainty.