cause-and-effect relationships vs cause and effect relationships

Both "cause-and-effect relationships" and "cause and effect relationships" are correct, but they are used in slightly different contexts. The hyphenated version is more common when used as an adjective to describe relationships, while the non-hyphenated version is more common when used as a general term.

Last updated: March 27, 2024 • 973 views

This phrase is correct and commonly used, especially when used as an adjective to describe relationships.

"cause-and-effect relationships "

This phrase is typically used when describing relationships between events or things where one is the result of the other. The hyphens help to connect the words and indicate that they are working together as a single concept.

Examples:

Studying history helps students understand cause-and-effect relationships.
The research focused on cause-and-effect relationships in the environment.
Understanding cause-and-effect relationships is crucial in science.
The book explores various cause-and-effect relationships in society.
Teachers often use examples to illustrate cause-and-effect relationships.

Show examples from the web [+]

In any case, the signal only raised a suspicion and did not prove a cause and effect relationship.
the cause-and-effect relationship shall be investigated if possible;
It is not therefore possible automatically to establish a cause and effect relationship between a subsidy and the disappearance of an undertaking.
This method does not provide exact measurements at a detailed level nor does it show cause and effect relationships between measures and their resulting energy savings.
The Authority concluded that a cause and effect relationship has been established between the consumption of glucose and contribution to energy-yielding metabolism.
In order to establish such cause-and-effect relationship, the Authority will take into account any fall in electricity prices or market share losses suffered by the undertakings concerned.
The NDA Panel concluded that a cause and effect relationship has been established between the consumption of monacolin K in red yeast rice preparations and maintenance of normal blood LDL-cholesterol concentrations.
Now I do not know whether there is a cause-and-effect relationship at work here, but that is something we can disregard.
ICP Forests and the EU operate one of the world's largest biomonitoring networks with the aim of quantifying these changes and helping to understand the cause and effect relationships.
Opinion is divided, however, on treating all MS patients for CCSVI, given that to date there is no proof of a (con)cause and effect relationship between the two conditions.
Secondly, because scientific information is as yet incomplete and we need to establish beyond a doubt whether there is a cause and effect relationship between the use of weapons containing depleted uranium and the health problems that we have been seeing.
Further, the Authority concluded that a cause and effect relationship had not been established between the intake of ARA and the claimed effect.
On 26 September 2012, the Commission and the Member States received the scientific opinion from the Authority, which concluded that on the basis of the data presented, a cause and effect relationship could not be established between the consumption of Transitech and the claimed effect.
The Commission appears to establish a cause-and-effect relationship between the environmental problems of water within the EU mainland and the fact that water resources can be used at little cost.
If it is acknowledged that charges for the water used in the vast majority of irrigated areas within the EU represent only a fraction of the costs of that water, that cause-and-effect relationship needs to be qualified.
With regard to the specific case of ammunition that contains depleted uranium, the lack of rigorous clinical proof that clearly confirms the cause-and-effect relationship between its use and the occurrence of diseases must lead us to invest even more heavily in research into this possible connection.
If this investigation shows that there is a cause-and-effect relationship between the beating received and his death, are you willing to condemn them?
Indeed, the ESFA itself issued an opinion in October 2008 which indicated that studies conducted did not allow a cause and effect relationship to be scientifically established between the addition of that acid to artificial milk and beneficial effects on babies.
This would allow for submission of further evidence to EFSA for claims for which either the micro-organisms they relate to were not sufficiently characterised or where the data to substantiate them were insufficient to establish a cause and effect relationship between the foods and the claimed effects.
On the basis of the data presented, the Authority concluded in its opinion, received by the Commission and the Member States on 21 February 2014, that a cause and effect relationship has not been established between the consumption of beta-palmitate and softening of stools.

Alternatives:

relationships of cause and effect
relationships between cause and effect
cause-effect relationships
relationships showing cause and effect
relationships that demonstrate cause and effect

This phrase is also correct, but it is more commonly used as a general term without the hyphens.