提問：「我發現在寫論文時，我使用cause這個動詞來表達因果關係的機率非常高，請問在撰寫研究論文時，還有哪些表達因果關係的方法？」
-台北醫學大學C-G T.
回答：
基本上，學術研究的主旨在於了解問題，並進一步提出解決方案。尤其是在應用領域的學科中，例如：醫學領域的研究者會積極找出問題來分析。
換句話說，「問題」大多數都是學術論文的研究題材。不過，我們必須先得充分分析問題，才能提出解決方案，而問題的分析過程必然涉及許多成因。以下列出了一些表達因果關係的語彙，供您寫作時參考。
表示因果的動詞
| Lack of protein | may cause can lead to can result in | mental disability. |
| Scurvy is a disease | caused by resulting from stemming from | lack of vitamin C. |
| Much of the instability in X | stems from | the economic effects of the war. |
| Low levels of chlorine | can give rise to | high blood pressure. |
表示因果的名詞
| One reason why X have declined is that … The most likely causes of X are poor diet and lack of exercise. The causes of X have been the subject of intense debate within … A consequence of vitamin A deficiency is blindness. X can have profound health consequences for older people. Physical activity is an important factor in maintaining fitness. Many other medications have an influence on cholesterol levels. |
表示因果的介系詞片語
| 200,000 people per year become deaf | owing to because of as a result of as a consequence of | a lack of iodine. |
表示因果的句子連接詞
| If undernourished children do survive to become adults, they have decreased learning ability. | Therefore, Consequently, Because of this, As a result (of this), | when they grow up, it will probably be difficult for them to find work. |
表示因果的副詞用法
| Malnutrition leads to illness and a reduced ability to work in adulthood, The warm air rises above the surface of the sea, | thus thereby | perpetuating the poverty cycle. creating an area of low pressure. |
其他例子：
- Extreme loneliness is a risk factor for X.
- X and Y are important driving factors of Z.
- X is almost as strong a risk factor for disability as Y.
- X is generally seen as a factor strongly related to Y.
- The mixing of X and Y exerts a powerful effect upon Z through …
- Due to X and Y, inflowing surface water becomes more dense as it …
- Loneliness can have profound health consequences for older people.
- As a consequence of X, it appears that Y alone is not the causative factor of …
- The study found that loneliness has twice the impact on early death as obesity does.
- Possible cause and effect relationships expressed tentatively.
- There is some evidence that X may affect Y.
- It is not yet clear whether X is made worse by Y.
- This suggests a weak link may exist between X and Y.
- The use of X may be linked to behavior problems in …
- The human papilloma virus is linked to most cervical cancer.
- The findings indicate that regular exercise could improve cognitive function in people at risk of …
- X may have been an important factor in …
- X may have contributed to the increase in …
- X may have played a vital role in bringing about …
- X may have been caused by an increase in …
- In the literature, X has been associated with Y.
- X in many cases may be associated with certain bacterial infections.
- A high consumption of X could be associated with infertility.
