cause and effect

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

However, observational data alone cannot prove cause and effect.

From Science Daily • May 6, 2026

Because this was an observational study, it cannot prove cause and effect.

From Science Daily • Apr. 18, 2026

However, the researchers note that the findings show a correlation, not cause and effect, and that factors like motivation or self-discipline may also influence outcomes.

From Science Daily • Mar. 30, 2026

He did, and in 2011, Christopher Sims and his friend Thomas Sargent won a Nobel Prize for their work revealing how the lines of cause and effect ripple through the economy.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 17, 2026

But when it comes to cause and effect, there is often a trap in such open-and-shut thinking.

From "Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything" by Steven D. Levitt