Cool MateCauses vs Makes for restless nights
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Causes
Top 5,000 (fairly common)
Makes for restless nights
InformalBeyond 10,000 (less common)
Most formal: CausesMost common: Causes
| Causes | Makes for restless nights | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //ˈkɔːzɪz//🇺🇸 //ˈkɔːzɪz// | 🇬🇧 //meɪks fɔː ˈrɛstləs naɪts//🇺🇸 //meɪks fɔr ˈrɛstləs naɪts// |
| Meaning | Things that make something happen. | Causes sleeplessness or trouble sleeping at night. |
| Example | Smoking causes many health problems. | Worrying about the future makes for restless nights, tossing and turning. |
| Register | Neutral | Informal |
| How common | Top 5,000 (fairly common) | Beyond 10,000 (less common) |
| Collocations | cause for concern, cause of action, causes of death, common causes, underlying causes | makes for chaos, makes for a good time, makes for sleeplessness |
| Antonyms | effects, results | - |
| Common mistakes | Confusing 'causes' with 'effects' - remember, causes are the reasons for something happening., Using 'causes' as a singular noun instead of its plural form when referring to multiple reasons. | Confusing 'makes for' with 'makes' without 'for', Incorrectly using it in a formal context, Not using it with a noun phrase |
| Usage notes | Use 'causes' to describe the reason behind something happening. It's appropriate in both written and spoken contexts, especially in discussions about science or social issues. | Used in casual conversations to describe situations that lead to difficulty sleeping. Avoid in formal writing. |
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Frequently asked questions: Causes vs Makes for restless nights
What's the difference between Causes and Makes for restless nights?
Causes: Things that make something happen. Makes for restless nights: Causes sleeplessness or trouble sleeping at night.
Which is more formal: Causes and Makes for restless nights?
Causes is the most formal of these.
Which is more common: Causes and Makes for restless nights?
Causes is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Causes: Smoking causes many health problems. Makes for restless nights: Worrying about the future makes for restless nights, tossing and turning.
Can I use Causes and Makes for restless nights interchangeably?
Not always. Causes and Makes for restless nights are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.