Grammar fix
a causal link
cause-and-effect connection (formal/academic)
a relationship where one thing directly causes another, often used to discuss scientific, social, or academic topics where proving cause and effect is important.
Hear it in context
Notice where the phrase sounds natural.
Researchers found a causal link between air pollution and increased rates of asthma in children.
While many studies have shown a correlation between screen time and poor sleep, few have established a clear causal link.
Fix the pattern
One small grammar move makes it sound right.
Not: There is a casual link between smoking and cancer.
Say: There is a causal link between smoking and cancer.
'Causal' (cause-related) vs 'casual' (relaxed) — one letter, opposite meaning.
Which sounds natural?
Tap the one a native speaker would say.
In academic writing the fixed term is 'a causal link'; 'a relationship of cause and effect' is a clumsy paraphrase.
Build natural chunks
Words that usually travel with it.
establish a causal link between
- establish
- prove
- between ... and
- no