B2–C1 · CDG · XTHCDG003

The link from [X] to [Y] only makes sense if [Z] happens in between

A reusable frame from “Causal diagnosis”. Separate triggers from causes, compare mechanisms, and diagnose causal structure without treating sequence as proof.

EN · EnglishThe link from [X] to [Y] only makes sense if [Z] happens in between.
DE · GermanDer Zusammenhang zwischen [X] und [Y] ergibt nur Sinn, wenn dazwischen [Z] passiert.

Try variations2 · more examples

  1. RU · Translation

    Связь плохих данных с низким доверием понятна, если пользователи сталкиваются с непоследовательными результатами.

    EN · English

     The link from bad data to low trust only  makes sense if  users repeatedly  encounter inconsistent results in between.

    DE · German

     Der Zusammenhang zwischen schlechten Daten und geringem Vertrauen  ergibt nur  Sinn, wenn  Nutzer wiederholt  inkonsistente Ergebnisse  sehen.

  2. RU · Translation

    Связь дополнительных проверок с падением пропускной способности понятна, если проверки расходуют ограниченное время ревьюеров.

    EN · English

     The link from extra checks to lower throughput only  makes sense if  the checks  consume constrained reviewer time.

    DE · German

     Der Zusammenhang zwischen zusätzlichen Prüfungen und geringerem Durchsatz  ergibt nur  Sinn, wenn  die Prüfungen  knappe Prüferzeit  verbrauchen.

Use this move when you want to…

Reasoning move · Cause

Cause

What it does

Make the intermediate mechanism between a proposed cause and outcome explicit.

Pattern graph

Continue with nearby patterns

Related reasoning patterns4

Nearby structures let you perform the same reasoning move in a different form.

  1. If [X] were the main cause, we would expect [Y]; if [Z] were, we would expect [W].Cause · same reasoning move · same study set · related logic
  2. [X] may have triggered [Y], but that does not make it the underlying cause.Cause · same reasoning move · same study set
  3. [X] may be necessary for [Y], but it is not sufficient on its own.Cause · same reasoning move · same study set
  4. What changed before [X], and what stayed the same?Cause · same reasoning move · same study set

Continue learning

Choose the next useful route.