"likely cause of this problem" vs "likely cause to this problem"

Question

"likely cause of this problem" vs "likely cause to this problem"

The correct phrase is 'likely cause of this problem.' 'Of' is the preposition commonly used to indicate the relationship between 'cause' and 'problem.' 'To' is not the appropriate preposition in this context.

Last Updated: March 15, 2024

Use 'likely cause of this problem' when referring to the reason behind a particular issue or difficulty.

Examples:

The likely cause of this problem is a software glitch.
What do you think is the likely cause of this problem?
Identifying the likely cause of this problem is crucial for finding a solution.
We need to investigate the likely cause of this problem.
The team is analyzing the likely cause of this problem.

Alternatives:

likely cause of this problem
probable reason for this issue
possible explanation for this difficulty
potential source of this challenge
plausible factor contributing to this dilemma

Answer 1

likely cause of this problem

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

Answer 2

likely cause to this problem

This phrase is incorrect in English. 'To' is not the appropriate preposition to use in this context.

"likely cause of this problem" vs "likely cause to this problem"

likely cause of this problem

likely cause to this problem

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