“Cause” vs. “Reason”: What’s the Difference?

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The difference between “cause” and “reason”

  • The cause is the direct source or origin, while the reason is the explanation or justification behind it.
  • Causes are typically tangible and concrete, while reasons are often abstract and subjective.
  • Identifying a cause implies a direct relationship between two events, while identifying a reason implies a more complex or indirect relationship.
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What is the definition of “cause” and “reason”?

Cause
  • A cause is the source or origin of a particular action or event.
  • It refers to the physical or tangible reason behind an outcome.
  • It is often associated with direct or immediate effects.
Reason
  • A reason is an explanation for a particular action or event.
  • It refers to the logical or abstract justification behind an outcome.
  • It is often associated with indirect or underlying factors.

Which is the more popular variant on the Internet?

“Cause” is the more popular variant on the web.
More popular
Cause
4,300,000,000 results on the web
Examples
  1. The heavy rains caused flooding in the city streets.
  2. Smoking is one of the leading causes of lung cancer.
  3. His bad attitude caused him to lose his job.
Reason
2,490,000,000 results on the web
Examples
  1. The reason I didn't come to the party was that I had a family emergency.
  2. He explained his reason for being late to the meeting.
  3. There's no reason to get upset over a small mistake.
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