1. Cause and Effect Patterns

Cause-and-effect relationships in scientific writing can be expressed in two directions:

  • from a reason (R) to the observation (O) it produces (R β†’ O)

  • from an observation (O) to the reason (R) that explains it (O β†’ R)

Each of thesecan be developed into more formal, nominalised constructions for precise scientific explanation.

1.1. R β†’ O Cause-Effect Construction

The R β†’ O pattern presents a reason (R) followed by the observation (O) it produces.
This is the most common structure in scientific explanation because it foregrounds the mechanism.
Reason (R): The lines of force around the magnet are most concentrated at the poles.
This identifies the cause: the distribution of magnetic field lines.
Observation (O): Iron filings accumulate at the poles of the magnet.
This identifies the effect: the observable behaviour.
The causal relationship, R β†’ O, can be written by joining the two clauses with a text connective β€œas a result” or β€œconsequently”:
The lines of force around the magnet are most concentrated at the poles, and as a result, iron filings accumulate at the poles of the magnet.

1.2. O β†’ R Effect-Cause Construction

The O β†’ R pattern can be written by joining the two clauses with a text connective β€œbecause” or β€œsince”:
Iron filings accumulate at the poles of the magnet because the lines of force around the magnet are most concentrated at the poles.

1.3. Nominalised Patterns

Reason (R): The lines of force around the magnet are most concentrated at the poles.
becomes:
nomR: The high concentration of lines of force at the poles
Observation (O): Iron filings accumulate at the poles of the magnet.
becomes:
nomO: The accumulation of iron filings at the poles of the magnet
The nomR β†’ nomO can be written by joining the two clauses with a text connective β€œcauses” or β€œresults in”:
The high concentration of lines of force at the poles results in the accumulation of iron filings at the poles of the magnet.

1.4. Combining nomO β†’ nomR

The nomO β†’ nomR pattern can be written by joining the two clauses with a text connective β€œis due to” or β€œis a consequence of”:
The accumulation of iron filings at the poles of the magnet is due to the high concentration of lines of force at the poles.

1.5. Patterns

Writers select different cause-and-effect structures depending on purpose, audience, and level of formality.
The table below summarises common patterns and their typical uses.
Putting the reason (R) before the observation (O) is more common in scientific writing because it foregrounds the mechanism, while putting the observation (O) before the reason (R) is more common in informal explanation because it is more intuitive for readers.
The use of nominalisation (nomR, nomO) allows for more abstract and formal expression, which is often preferred in academic writing.

Pattern Type

Structures

Implied logical connection

Text connective (R β†’ O)

    1. As a result, O

    1. Consequently, O

    1. Therefore, O

    1. For this reason, O

Conjunction (R β†’ O)

  • R, so O

  • R; hence, O

Preposition

  • Because R, O

  • Since R, O

  • Due to nomR, O

  • As a result of nomR, O

Verb (nomR β†’ nomO)

  • nomR causes nomO

  • nomR results in nomO

  • nomR leads to nomO

Noun (nomR β†’ nomO)

  • The result of nomR is nomO

Conjunction (O β†’ R)

  • O because R

  • O since R

Verb (nomO β†’ nomR)

  • nomO results from nomR

  • nomO occurs as a consequence of nomR

  • nomO is due to nomR

Noun (nomO β†’ nomR)

  • The reason for nomO is nomR

  • The cause of nomO is nomR

1.6. More patterns

R β†’ O Patterns

Implied logical connection
Text connective

    1. As a result, O.

    1. Consequently, O.

    1. Therefore, O.

    1. For this reason, O.

    1. Thus, O.

    1. Hence, O.

    1. This means that O.

Conjunction

  • R, so O.

  • R, and so O.

  • R; hence, O.

  • R; therefore, O.

Subordinating conjunction

  • Given that R, O.

  • Seeing that R, O.

  • In that R, O.

Preposition

  • Because of nomR, O.

  • Due to nomR, O.

  • As a result of nomR, O.

  • As a consequence of nomR, O.

  • Owing to nomR, O.

  • On account of nomR, O.

Verb (nomR β†’ nomO)

  • nomR causes nomO.

  • nomR results in nomO.

  • nomR leads to nomO.

  • nomR produces nomO.

  • nomR generates nomO.

  • nomR brings about nomO.

Noun (nomR β†’ nomO)

  • The result of nomR is nomO.

  • The effect of nomR is nomO.

  • The consequence of nomR is nomO.

  • The outcome of nomR is nomO.

O β†’ R Patterns

Conjunction

  • O because R.

  • O since R.

  • O as R.

Verb (nomO β†’ nomR)

  • nomO results from nomR.

  • nomO occurs as a consequence of nomR.

  • nomO is due to nomR.

  • nomO is caused by nomR.

  • nomO is produced by nomR.

  • nomO stems from nomR.

  • nomO is brought about by nomR.

Noun (nomO β†’ nomR)

  • The reason for nomO is nomR.

  • The cause of nomO is nomR.

  • The explanation for nomO is nomR.