Difference Wiki

Cause vs. Effect

The main difference between Cause and Effect is that Cause is the reason behind any action or a phenomenon, whereas Effect is the consequences of a cause or the outcome of some chain events that have happened.

Key Differences

The cause is the origin of a scenario, while the effect is the result where cause led to.
The Source of any event caused, on the other hand, the effect gives us the answer to “therefore.”
The cause is an element, and the effect are the result of that element.
A cause could be a person, event, situation, or and object that can result in something; on the other hand, the effect is a result of that event.
Cause talks about reason; on the other side, the effect moves the situation towards the conclusion.
Janet White
Mar 30, 2020
The cause is the answer to “due to,” whereas the effect is the end.
Aimie Carlson
Mar 30, 2020
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In a sentence, a cause can work both as a verb as well as a noun, whereas effect commonly works as a noun, but in some cases, it could be used as a verb also.
A cause is an explanation of an effect, while the effect is a consequence.
Cause gives us an answer to questions like “Why” and “How”; on the other hand, the effect gives the answers to the question “What.”
Aimie Carlson
Mar 30, 2020

Comparison Chart

.

Producer of effect
Produced by cause

Nature

Can be a situation, object, or an event
Result of that event

Sequence

Naturally moves towards an effect
Always follow a cause
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Related Words

“Why” and “How”
“What”
Harlon Moss
Mar 30, 2020

Syntax

Mostly used as a noun and verb
Commonly as a noun, sometimes as a verb
Janet White
Mar 30, 2020

Purpose

Explains the reason
Consequences of cause
Samantha Walker
Mar 30, 2020

Cause and Effect Definitions

Cause

Because.

Effect

Something brought about by a cause or agent; a result.

Cause

The producer of an effect, result, or consequence.
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Effect

The power to produce an outcome or achieve a result
The government's action had little effect on the trade imbalance.

Cause

The one, such as a person, event, or condition, that is responsible for an action or result.

Effect

Advantage; avail
Used her words to great effect in influencing the jury.

Cause

A basis for an action or response; a reason
The doctor's report gave no cause for alarm.

Effect

The condition of being in full force or execution; operativeness
A new regulation that goes into effect tomorrow.

Cause

A goal or principle served with dedication and zeal
“the cause of freedom versus tyranny” (Hannah Arendt).

Effect

Something that produces a specific impression or supports a general design or intention
The lighting effects emphasized the harsh atmosphere of the drama.

Cause

The interests of a person or group engaged in a struggle
“The cause of America is in great measure the cause of all mankind” (Thomas Paine).

Effect

A particular impression
Large windows that gave an effect of spaciousness.

Cause

A lawsuit or criminal prosecution.

Effect

Production of a desired impression
Spent lavishly on dinner just for effect.

Cause

The ground or basis for a lawsuit.

Effect

The basic or general meaning; import
He said he was greatly worried, or words to that effect.

Cause

A subject under debate or discussion.

Effect

Effects Movable belongings; goods.

Cause

To be the cause of or reason for; result in.

Effect

To bring about; make happen; cause or accomplish
Effect a cure for a disease.
Effect a change in policy. See Usage Note at affect1.

Cause

To bring about or compel by authority or force
The moderator invoked a rule causing the debate to be ended.

Effect

The result or outcome of a cause.
The effect of the hurricane was a devastated landscape.

Cause

The source of, or reason for, an event or action; that which produces or effects a result.
They identified a burst pipe as the cause of the flooding.

Effect

Impression left on the mind; sensation produced.

Cause

Sufficient reason for a state, as of emotion.
There is no cause for alarm.
The end of the war was a cause for celebration.

Effect

Execution; performance; realization; operation.

Cause

(countable) A goal, aim or principle, especially one which transcends purely selfish ends.

Effect

(uncountable) The state of being binding and enforceable, as in a rule, policy, or law.
The new law will come into effect on the first day of next year.

Cause

(obsolete) Sake; interest; advantage.

Effect

An illusion produced by technical means (as in "special effect")
The effect of flying was most convincing.

Cause

Any subject of discussion or debate; a matter; an affair.

Effect

(sound engineering) An alteration, or device for producing an alteration, in sound after it has been produced by an instrument.
I use an echo effect here to make the sound more mysterious.
I just bought a couple of great effects.

Cause

A suit or action in court; any legal process by which a party endeavors to obtain his claim, or what he regards as his right; case; ground of action.

Effect

A scientific phenomenon, usually named after its discoverer.
Doppler effect

Cause

(transitive) To set off an event or action.
The lightning caused thunder.

Effect

Belongings, usually as personal effects.

Cause

(ditransitive) To actively produce as a result, by means of force or authority.
His dogged determination caused the fundraising to be successful.

Effect

Consequence intended; purpose; meaning; general intent; with to.

Cause

(obsolete) To assign or show cause; to give a reason; to make excuse.

Effect

(obsolete) Reality; actual meaning; fact, as distinguished from mere appearance.

Cause

Alternative form of 'cause; because

Effect

(obsolete) Manifestation; expression; sign.

Cause

That which produces or effects a result; that from which anything proceeds, and without which it would not exist.
Cause is substance exerting its power into act, to make one thing begin to be.

Effect

(transitive) To make or bring about; to implement.
The best way to effect change is to work with existing stakeholders.

Cause

That which is the occasion of an action or state; ground; reason; motive; as, cause for rejoicing.

Effect

Misspelling of affect

Cause

Sake; interest; advantage.
I did it not for his cause.

Effect

Execution; performance; realization; operation; as, the law goes into effect in May.
That no compunctious visitings of natureShake my fell purpose, nor keep peace betweenThe effect and it.

Cause

A suit or action in court; any legal process by which a party endeavors to obtain his claim, or what he regards as his right; case; ground of action.

Effect

Manifestation; expression; sign.
All the large effectsThat troop with majesty.

Cause

Any subject of discussion or debate; matter; question; affair in general.
What counsel give you in this weighty cause!

Effect

In general: That which is produced by an agent or cause; the event which follows immediately from an antecedent, called the cause; result; consequence; outcome; fruit; as, the effect of luxury.
The effect is the unfailing index of the amount of the cause.

Cause

The side of a question, which is espoused, advocated, and upheld by a person or party; a principle which is advocated; that which a person or party seeks to attain.
God befriend us, as our cause is just.
The part they take against me is from zeal to the cause.

Effect

Impression left on the mind; sensation produced.
Patchwork . . . introduced for oratorical effect.
The effect was heightened by the wild and lonely nature of the place.

Cause

To effect as an agent; to produce; to be the occasion of; to bring about; to bring into existence; to make; - usually followed by an infinitive, sometimes by that with a finite verb.
I will cause it to rain upon the earth forty days.
Cause that it be read also in the church of the Laodiceans.

Effect

Power to produce results; efficiency; force; importance; account; as, to speak with effect.

Cause

To assign or show cause; to give a reason; to make excuse.

Effect

Consequence intended; purpose; meaning; general intent; - with to.
They spake to her to that effect.

Cause

Abbreviation of Because.

Effect

The purport; the sum and substance.

Cause

Events that provide the generative force that is the origin of something;
They are trying to determine the cause of the crash

Effect

Reality; actual meaning; fact, as distinguished from mere appearance.
No other in effect than what it seems.

Cause

A justification for something existing or happening;
He had no cause to complain
They had good reason to rejoice

Effect

Goods; movables; personal estate; - sometimes used to embrace real as well as personal property; as, the people escaped from the town with their effects.
Resolving all events, with their effectsAnd manifold results, into the willAnd arbitration wise of the Supreme.
Shun the bitter consequence, for know,The day thou eatest thereof, . . . thou shalt die.

Cause

A series of actions advancing a principle or tending toward a particular end;
He supported populist campaigns
They worked in the cause of world peace
The team was ready for a drive toward the pennant
The movement to end slavery
Contributed to the war effort

Effect

To produce, as a cause or agent; to cause to be.
So great a body such exploits to effect.

Cause

Any entity that causes events to happen

Effect

To bring to pass; to execute; to enforce; to achieve; to accomplish.
To effect that which the divine counsels had decreed.
They sailed away without effecting their purpose.

Cause

A comprehensive term for any proceeding in a court of law whereby an individual seeks a legal remedy;
The family brought suit against the landlord

Effect

A phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon;
The magnetic effect was greater when the rod was lengthwise
His decision had depressing consequences for business
He acted very wise after the event

Cause

Give rise to; cause to happen or occur, not always intentionally;
Cause a commotion
Make a stir
Cause an accident

Effect

An outward appearance;
He made a good impression
I wanted to create an impression of success
She retained that bold effect in her reproductions of the original painting

Cause

Cause to do; cause to act in a specified manner;
The ads induced me to buy a VCR
My children finally got me to buy a computer
My wife made me buy a new sofa

Effect

(of a law) having legal validity;
The law is still in effect

Effect

A symptom caused by an illness or a drug;
The effects of sleep loss
The effect of the anesthetic

Effect

An impression (especially one that is artificial or contrived);
He just did it for effect

Effect

The central meaning or theme of a speech or literary work

Effect

Produce;
The scientists set up a shockwave

Effect

Act so as to bring into existence;
Effect a change

Cause vs. Effect

Cause always tells a reason why something took place; on the other hand, effect presents the results. When analyzing the cause, we deal with questions like “why” and “how” while effect deals with the question “what.

Examples of cause are John went to the shoe store, but it was out of the shoes, John wanted. John didn’t get to sit by the window in the car. John’s mother forgot to pack dessert in his lunch. And examples of effect are John got plain white shoes and was unhappy. John was squished in the backseat and was sad. John had no dessert at lunchtime.

What is the Cause?

The cause is the main thing behind anything that happens. Behind every action, there lies a cause that makes things happen. Even our actions contain cause as well. We can learn this term through many examples; for instance, one man is beating another man in anger. Here, it can say that anger is one of the reasons due to which action came out.

It was the simplest example; let’s take another example, “Anny got 100% on her test because she worked hard.” In this example, it obvious that Anny got the best percentage, and its cause is her hard work. Because she did a lot of hard work for this, that’s why she got 100% on a test.

What is the Effect?

In simple words, the effect is the consequences of cause. It is the result of reason like, “it happened” due to “that.” Here, again we can take the same example, which we have learned in the cause section to make a difference between two terms. For example, a man is beating another man in anger. Obviously, anger is one of its causes, but what are the consequences that it gave? Its results could be that person injured now, or it could be, the other person starts beating the first one, etc.

Let’s understand effect by another example; “John stayed up late at night, so he is still sleeping.” “John is still sleeping” is an effect, but there is a reason why he is still sleeping? It is because he stayed up late at night.

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