Cause and Effect

 A cause-effect relationship is a relationship in which one event (the cause) makes another event happen (the effect). A good example is an alarm clock. The alarm rings (the cause) and you wake up (the effect). 

The most common words to express cause and effect are because and so. Because introduces the cause; so introduces the effect.

I woke up because my alarm went off.

    effect                            cause

My alarm went off so I woke up. 

      cause                          effect

Being able to describe cause-effect relationships is a crucial skill for academic writing. The following phrases will help you to do this. 

Cause

In these two examples, you first use the phrase, state the effect (in italics), and then the cause (underlined).

One reason (for)

One of the causes (of)

One reason for traffic congestion is inadequate public transportation.

One of the causes of traffic congestion is inadequate public transportation.

When using the following phrases, you first state the effect, then a comma, the phrase and then the cause.

Owing to

Due to 

Blood sports should be made illegal, owing to the high level of suffering they cause animals.

Blood sports should be made illegal, due to the high level of suffering they cause animals.

Effect

 With these phrases you first state the cause, the phrase and then the effect. 

Causes 

Leads to

Smoking causes/leads to a number of illnesses, such as cancer and diabetes. 

A poor work ethic can lead to fewer career opportunities.

With these phrases you first state the effect, then the phrase, and then the cause. 

A result of

Brought about by

Global warming is a result of / brought about by many factors.

Pollution is a result of / brought about by heavy traffic.

⇨ Look at how some of these phrases are used in the following passage. 

Reading for Pleasure… and Success!

For ESL learners, developing a reading habit is a prerequisite for success.

To achieve a mastery of the English language – or indeed any language, it is important to read for pleasure. Good exam marks are often the result of having a reading habit. One reason for this is that when students read, they learn new vocabulary in context. Furthermore, learning to enjoy reading leads to students spending more of their time immersed in books, which improves their English. 

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