result in / cause / lead to (2025)

Hi everyone, I have a problems regarding the usage of these phrases.

It seems that all these phrases can be used to introduce an outcome, but does the outcome must be something negative or at least neutral? For example, we can say, "Having an ageing population will result in/cause/lead to some social and economic problems", but can we say “Having an ageing population will result in/cause/lead to some benefits"?

Dr. stranger said:

but does the outcome

must

have to be something negative or at least neutral?

Click to expand...

No.
"If the scheme works, it will result in/lead to an end to war, illness and poverty"
"If the scheme works, it will result in/lead to happiness for everyone"
"If the scheme works, it will result in/lead to our being in the position we were in three months ago."

"If the scheme works, it will cause war, illness and poverty"
"If the scheme works, it will cause happiness to break out"
"If the scheme works, it will cause us to be in the position that we were in three months ago."

Thanks Paul, I have no problem with the usage of "result in" and "lead to" now. And thinks for correcting a grammatical error for me. But regarding "cause", I just checked the dictionary and found that it is often used to indicate the occurrence of something bad. Here is the explanation in the dictionary "To cause something, usually something bad, means to make it happen.". I was wondering, whether it is not the best choice, when I want to introduce a positive outcome, or actually there is no restriction here?

PaulQ said:

No.
"If the scheme works, it will result in/lead to an end to war, illness and poverty"
"If the scheme works, it will result in/lead to happiness for everyone"
"If the scheme works, it will result in/lead to our being in the position we were in three months ago."

"If the scheme works, it will cause war, illness and poverty"
"If the scheme works, it will cause happiness to break out"
"If the scheme works, it will cause us to be in the position that we were in three months ago."

Click to expand...

Dr. stranger said:

…… regarding "cause", I just checked the dictionary and found that it is often used to indicate the occurrence of something bad. Here is the explanation in the dictionary "To cause something, usually something bad, means to make it happen.". I was wondering, whether it is not the best choice, when I want to introduce a positive outcome, or actually there is no restriction here?

Click to expand...

What the dictionaries say is true, in that the word cause (both as a verb and as a noun) is typically used in relation to a

of some kind that needs to be fixed.

With the

, instantly recognisable collocations include to “cause havoc/mayhem”, “cause an accident”, “cause problems”. This negative nuance also applies to the

cause – specifically in its meaning of what brought something about, what made it happen in the first place.

But in its sense of a reason or good excuse for something, the noun clause can be either negative or positive (there’s no cause for alarm / this is a cause for celebration / we have cause to be thankful).

Dr. stranger said:

I just checked the dictionary and found that it is often used to indicate the occurrence of something bad. Here is the explanation in the dictionary "To cause something, usually something bad, means to make it happen."

Click to expand...

I have bolded in red the most important word. Often does not mean always, or even "most times"; it is more "commonly."

Consider:

The warmth causes the dough to rise. The shaking causes the cream to turn to butter. The better weather caused the flowers to bloom. The Big Bang caused the universe as we know it.