Grammar fix
a causal link
cause-and-effect connection (formal/academic)
a relationship where one thing directly causes another, often used to discuss scientific, social, or academic topics where proving cause and effect is important.
Hear it in context
Notice where the phrase sounds natural.
- Researchers found a causal link between air pollution and increased rates of asthma in children.society
- While many studies have shown a correlation between screen time and poor sleep, few have established a clear causal link.IELTS speaking
Fix the pattern
Pattern: a causal link between A and B
WrongThere is a casual link between smoking and cancer.
RightThere is a causal link between smoking and cancer.
'Causal' (cause-related) vs 'casual' (relaxed) — one letter, opposite meaning.
Patterna causal link between A and B
Use it right
Choose the version that sounds natural in speech.
In academic writing the fixed term is 'a causal link'; 'a relationship of cause and effect' is a clumsy paraphrase.
Build natural chunks
Words that usually travel with it.
establish a causal link betweenestablishprovebetween ... andno
Don't confuse it
Unlike 'a connection' or 'a correlation', which only suggest things are related, 'a causal link' means one thing directly causes the other. This is more precise and formal.