Section 2 — The Framework Grammar focus

Session 8 Grammar: Cause and effect connectors in news language

News journalists use a precise set of connectors to link events as cause and consequence — mastering these lets you both read the connections they make and question them.

Grammar Focus

[Cause clause / noun phrase] + [connector] + [effect clause] OR [Effect clause] + [connector] + [cause]

Cause and effect connectors are among the most important structural tools in analytical writing and journalism. They show how one event or condition produced another. Different connectors have slightly different meanings and levels of formality:

Consequently / As a result / Therefore — formal connectors used after stating a cause
This has led to / This resulted in — common in news reporting
In the wake of / Following — used when one event closely follows another
Due to / Owing to / As a consequence of — used before the cause (noun phrase)

When you see these connectors in news copy, ask: Is the causal claim justified? Is there evidence that A really caused B?

"The central bank raised interest rates; consequently, mortgage costs surged." (formal, direct sequence)

"Following the collapse of the ceasefire, violence escalated across three provinces." (temporal closeness implies causation)

"Years of underfunding have led to a chronic shortage of trained staff." (process over time, present result)

"In the wake of the scandal, three senior officials resigned within 48 hours." (atmosphere of consequence — not a direct mechanism)

"Due to supply chain disruptions, prices for basic goods rose by an average of 12%." (named cause, quantified effect)

"Voter turnout fell to a record low; as a result, the legitimacy of the election has been questioned." (one outcome produces another)

Variations to practice

this stemmed from... the knock-on effect of this was... owing to X, Y... as a direct consequence of... this triggered a... the net effect of X has been...