Metkagram
EN RU

B2–C1 · CLF · CLF068

[X] may have contributed to [Y], but it was not the only cause.

Structure

EN · English[X] may have contributed to [Y], but it was not the only cause.
DE · German[X] mag zu [Y] beigetragen haben, war aber nicht die einzige Ursache.

Anchor phrase

EN · English

The release  timing  may  have  contributed to the incident, but  it was not the only cause.

DE · German

Der  Zeitpunkt des Releases  mag zu dem Vorfall  beigetragen  haben, war aber nicht die einzige Ursache.

Try variations4 · more examples

  1. EN · English

    The new  default  may  have  contributed to the drop in completion, but  it was not the only cause.

    DE · German

    Die neue  Voreinstellung  mag zu dem Rückgang der Abschlussrate  beigetragen  haben, war aber nicht die einzige Ursache.

  2. EN · English

    Higher  load  may  have  contributed to the latency, but  it was not the only cause.

    DE · German

    Die höhere  Last  mag zu der Latenz  beigetragen  haben, war aber nicht die einzige Ursache.

  3. EN · English

    The sampling  change  may  have  contributed to the observed difference, but  it was not the only cause.

    DE · German

    Die  Änderung der Stichprobe  mag zu dem beobachteten Unterschied  beigetragen  haben, war aber nicht die einzige Ursache.

  4. EN · English

    Poor  documentation  may  have  contributed to the support volume, but  it was not the only cause.

    DE · German

    Unzureichende  Dokumentation  mag zu dem Supportaufkommen  beigetragen  haben, war aber nicht die einzige Ursache.

Use this move when you want to…

CauseExplain a causeConnect an outcome to the factor that produced or enabled it.CauseConnect cause and effectShow how one factor changes what follows instead of merely listing two events.

Reasoning move · Cause

Cause

What it does

Acknowledge a plausible causal contribution without claiming that one factor explains the whole outcome.

When to use it

Use it when evidence supports X as one contributor but the outcome is clearly multi-causal.

Common mistake

Do not use may have contributed as empty hedging; there should be a plausible mechanism or evidence for X.

Pattern graph

Continue with nearby patterns

CLF059[X] leads to [Y], which in turn leads to [Z].CauseCLF060[X] results from a combination of [Y] and [Z].CauseXTHCDG001[X] may have triggered [Y], but that does not make it the underlying cause.CauseXTHCDG002If [X] were the main cause, we would expect [Y]; if [Z] were, we would expect [W].Cause

Related reasoning patterns4

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

  1. [X] leads to [Y], which in turn leads to [Z].Cause · same reasoning move · same study set · related logic
  2. [X] results from a combination of [Y] and [Z].Cause · same reasoning move · same study set
  3. If [X] were the main cause, we would expect [Y]; if [Z] were, we would expect [W].Cause · same reasoning move · related logic
  4. The link from [X] to [Y] only makes sense if [Z] happens in between.Cause · same reasoning move · related logic