Course vs. Cause — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on October 19, 2023
Course typically refers to a direction, path, or a class of study, while Cause denotes a reason, motive, or the origin of an action or situation.
Difference Between Course and Cause
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Course and Cause are distinct both in pronunciation and meaning. Course frequently indicates a path, whether it be a trajectory, a study path, or a golf link. In contrast, Cause stands for the reason or motive behind an occurrence.
A student might enroll in a Course to further their education, hoping it would be the Cause for a brighter future. The word Course in this context refers to structured learning, while Cause indicates the motivation behind such an action.
The river took its natural Course, meandering through the landscape. Environmentalists, however, were fighting for a Cause – to protect it from pollution. In this setting, Course describes the river's path, while Cause speaks to a purpose or mission.
Serving a multi-course meal, a chef meticulously plans the progression of dishes. Yet, their passion for cooking usually stems from a deeper Cause, such as childhood memories or cultural influences. Here, Course delineates segments of the meal, while Cause uncovers the reason behind the chef's dedication.
While navigating life, one might choose a particular Course of action. The reasons that influence this choice are often rooted in a Cause or belief system. This juxtaposition shows how Course can imply a strategy or plan, and Cause pinpoints the underlying rationale.
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Comparison Chart
Basic Meaning
Direction, path, or class of study.
Reason, motive, or origin of an action or situation.
Part of Speech
Noun (primarily), but can also be a verb in certain contexts.
Noun, and can also be used as a verb.
Etymological Origin
From Old French "cours", meaning a run or flow.
From Old French "cause", meaning reason or purpose.
Example Usage
"She took a course in physics."
"He supported the cause of environmentalism."
Synonyms
Path, route, class, sequence.
Reason, basis, root, motive.
Compare with Definitions
Course
A direction in which something moves.
The hurricane altered its course towards the coast.
Cause
The reason something happens.
The main cause of the accident was human error.
Course
The way in which something progresses or develops.
Over the course of the year, the company saw significant growth.
Cause
The source or origin of a disease or ailment.
Scientists identified the bacteria as the cause of the infection.
Course
A part of a meal.
The dessert course was a delicious chocolate mousse.
Cause
Because.
Course
Development in a particular way; progress
The course of events.
Cause
The producer of an effect, result, or consequence.
Course
Movement in time; duration
In the course of a year.
Cause
The one, such as a person, event, or condition, that is responsible for an action or result.
Course
The direction of continuing movement
The boat took a northern course.
Cause
A basis for an action or response; a reason
The doctor's report gave no cause for alarm.
Course
The route or path taken by something that moves, such as a stream or vehicle.
Cause
A goal or principle served with dedication and zeal
“the cause of freedom versus tyranny” (Hannah Arendt).
Course
A designated route or area on which a race is held
The course of a marathon.
Cause
The interests of a person or group engaged in a struggle
“The cause of America is in great measure the cause of all mankind” (Thomas Paine).
Course
See golf course.
Cause
A lawsuit or criminal prosecution.
Course
A mode of action or behavior
Followed the best course and invested her money.
Cause
The ground or basis for a lawsuit.
Course
A typical, natural, or customary manner of proceeding or developing
A fad that ran its course.
Cause
A subject under debate or discussion.
Course
A systematic or orderly succession; a sequence
A course of medical treatments.
Cause
To be the cause of or reason for; result in.
Course
A continuous layer of building material, such as brick or tile, on a wall or roof of a building.
Cause
To bring about or compel by authority or force
The moderator invoked a rule causing the debate to be ended.
Course
A complete body of prescribed studies constituting a curriculum
A four-year course in engineering.
Cause
The source of, or reason for, an event or action; that which produces or effects a result.
They identified a burst pipe as the cause of the flooding.
Course
A unit of such a curriculum
Took an introductory course in chemistry.
Passed her calculus course.
Cause
Sufficient reason for a state, as of emotion.
There is no cause for alarm.
The end of the war was a cause for celebration.
Course
A part of a meal served as a unit at one time
The first course was a delicious soup.
Cause
(countable) A goal, aim or principle, especially one which transcends purely selfish ends.
Course
(Nautical) The lowest sail on a mast of a square-rigged ship.
Cause
(obsolete) Sake; interest; advantage.
Course
A point on the compass, especially the one toward which a vehicle, such as a ship, is moving.
Cause
Any subject of discussion or debate; a matter; an affair.
Course
(Music) A string or set of two or more closely-spaced and usually identically-tuned strings, as on a lute.
Cause
A suit or action in court; any legal process by which a party endeavors to obtain his claim, or what he regards as his right; case; ground of action.
Course
To move swiftly through or over; traverse
Ships coursing the seas.
Cause
(transitive) To set off an event or action.
The lightning caused thunder.
Course
To hunt (game) with hounds.
Cause
(ditransitive) To actively produce as a result, by means of force or authority.
His dogged determination caused the fundraising to be successful.
Course
To set (hounds) to chase game.
Cause
(obsolete) To assign or show cause; to give a reason; to make excuse.
Course
To proceed or move swiftly in a certain direction or along a course
"Big tears now coursed down her face" (Iris Murdoch).
Cause
Alternative form of 'cause; because
Course
To hunt game with hounds.
Cause
That which produces or effects a result; that from which anything proceeds, and without which it would not exist.
Cause is substance exerting its power into act, to make one thing begin to be.
Course
A sequence of events.
The normal course of events seems to be just one damned thing after another.
Cause
That which is the occasion of an action or state; ground; reason; motive; as, cause for rejoicing.
Course
A normal or customary sequence.
Cause
Sake; interest; advantage.
I did it not for his cause.
Course
A programme, a chosen manner of proceeding.
Cause
A suit or action in court; any legal process by which a party endeavors to obtain his claim, or what he regards as his right; case; ground of action.
Course
Any ordered process or sequence of steps.
Cause
Any subject of discussion or debate; matter; question; affair in general.
What counsel give you in this weighty cause!
Course
A learning programme, whether a single class or (UK) a major area of study.
I need to take a French course.
Cause
The side of a question, which is espoused, advocated, and upheld by a person or party; a principle which is advocated; that which a person or party seeks to attain.
God befriend us, as our cause is just.
The part they take against me is from zeal to the cause.
Course
A treatment plan.
Cause
To effect as an agent; to produce; to be the occasion of; to bring about; to bring into existence; to make; - usually followed by an infinitive, sometimes by that with a finite verb.
I will cause it to rain upon the earth forty days.
Cause that it be read also in the church of the Laodiceans.
Course
A stage of a meal.
We offer seafood as the first course.
Cause
To assign or show cause; to give a reason; to make excuse.
Course
The succession of one to another in office or duty; order; turn.
Cause
Abbreviation of Because.
Course
A path that something or someone moves along.
His illness ran its course.
Cause
Events that provide the generative force that is the origin of something;
They are trying to determine the cause of the crash
Course
The itinerary of a race.
The cross-country course passes the canal.
Cause
A justification for something existing or happening;
He had no cause to complain
They had good reason to rejoice
Course
A racecourse.
Cause
A series of actions advancing a principle or tending toward a particular end;
He supported populist campaigns
They worked in the cause of world peace
The team was ready for a drive toward the pennant
The movement to end slavery
Contributed to the war effort
Course
The path taken by a flow of water; a watercourse.
Cause
Any entity that causes events to happen
Course
(sports) The trajectory of a ball, frisbee etc.
Cause
A comprehensive term for any proceeding in a court of law whereby an individual seeks a legal remedy;
The family brought suit against the landlord
Course
(golf) A golf course.
Cause
Give rise to; cause to happen or occur, not always intentionally;
Cause a commotion
Make a stir
Cause an accident
Course
(nautical) The direction of movement of a vessel at any given moment.
The ship changed its course 15 degrees towards south.
Cause
Cause to do; cause to act in a specified manner;
The ads induced me to buy a VCR
My children finally got me to buy a computer
My wife made me buy a new sofa
Course
(navigation) The intended passage of voyage, such as a boat, ship, airplane, spaceship, etc.
A course was plotted to traverse the ocean.
Cause
A principle or movement that people support.
He dedicated his life to the cause of animal rights.
Course
The drive usually frequented by Europeans at an Indian station.
Cause
To make something happen.
Spilled water can cause the floor to become slippery.
Course
(nautical) The lowest square sail in a fully rigged mast, often named according to the mast.
Main course and mainsail are the same thing in a sailing ship.
Cause
A goal or principle served with dedication and zeal.
The charity works for a noble cause – providing clean water to all.
Course
Menses.
Course
A row or file of objects.
Course
(masonry) A row of bricks or blocks.
On a building that size, two crews could only lay two courses in a day.
Course
(roofing) A row of material that forms the roofing, waterproofing or flashing system.
Course
(textiles) In weft knitting, a single row of loops connecting the loops of the preceding and following rows.
Course
(music) One or more strings on some musical instruments (such as the guitar, lute or vihuela): if multiple, then closely spaced, tuned in unison or octaves and intended to played together.
Course
To run or flow (especially of liquids and more particularly blood).
The oil coursed through the engine.
Blood pumped around the human body courses throughout all its veins and arteries.
Course
(transitive) To run through or over.
Course
(transitive) To pursue by tracking or estimating the course taken by one's prey; to follow or chase after.
Course
(transitive) To cause to chase after or pursue game.
To course greyhounds after deer
Course
The act of moving from one point to another; progress; passage.
And when we had finished our course from Tyre, we came to Ptolemais.
Course
The ground or path traversed; track; way.
The same horse also run the round course at Newmarket.
Course
Motion, considered as to its general or resultant direction or to its goal; line progress or advance.
A light by which the Argive squadron steersTheir silent course to Ilium's well known shore.
Westward the course of empire takes its way.
Course
Progress from point to point without change of direction; any part of a progress from one place to another, which is in a straight line, or on one direction; as, a ship in a long voyage makes many courses; a course measured by a surveyor between two stations; also, a progress without interruption or rest; a heat; as, one course of a race.
Course
Motion considered with reference to manner; or derly progress; procedure in a certain line of thought or action; as, the course of an argument.
The course of true love never did run smooth.
Course
Customary or established sequence of events; recurrence of events according to natural laws.
By course of nature and of law.
Day and night,Seedtime and harvest, heat and hoary frost,Shall hold their course.
Course
Method of procedure; manner or way of conducting; conduct; behavior.
My lord of York commends the plot and the general course of the action.
By perseverance in the course prescribed.
You hold your course without remorse.
Course
A series of motions or acts arranged in order; a succession of acts or practices connectedly followed; as, a course of medicine; a course of lectures on chemistry.
Course
The succession of one to another in office or duty; order; turn.
He appointed . . . the courses of the priests
Course
That part of a meal served at one time, with its accompaniments.
He [Goldsmith] wore fine clothes, gave dinners of several courses, paid court to venal beauties.
Course
A continuous level range of brick or stones of the same height throughout the face or faces of a building.
Course
The lowest sail on any mast of a square-rigged vessel; as, the fore course, main course, etc.
Course
The menses.
Course
To run, hunt, or chase after; to follow hard upon; to pursue.
We coursed him at the heels.
Course
To cause to chase after or pursue game; as, to course greyhounds after deer.
Course
To run through or over.
The bounding steed courses the dusty plain.
Course
To run as in a race, or in hunting; to pursue the sport of coursing; as, the sportsmen coursed over the flats of Lancashire.
Course
To move with speed; to race; as, the blood courses through the veins.
Course
Education imparted in a series of lessons or class meetings;
He took a course in basket weaving
Flirting is not unknown in college classes
Course
A connected series of events or actions or developments;
The government took a firm course
Historians can only point out those lines for which evidence is available
Course
Facility consisting of a circumscribed area of land or water laid out for a sport;
The course had only nine holes
The course was less than a mile
Course
A mode of action;
If you persist in that course you will surely fail
Once a nation is embarked on a course of action it becomes extremely difficult for any retraction to take place
Course
A line or route along which something travels or moves;
The hurricane demolished houses in its path
The track of an animal
The course of the river
Course
General line of orientation;
The river takes a southern course
The northeastern trend of the coast
Course
Part of a meal served at one time;
She prepared a three course meal
Course
(construction) a layer of masonry;
A course of bricks
Course
Move swiftly through or over;
Ships coursing the Atlantic
Course
Move along, of liquids;
Water flowed into the cave
The Missouri feeds into the Mississippi
Course
Hunt with hounds;
He often courses hares
Course
As might be expected;
Naturally, the lawyer sent us a huge bill
Course
A structured class or series of classes on a specific topic.
She enrolled in a course on digital marketing.
Course
A continuous layer of building material.
The wall was built with a course of bricks followed by a layer of mortar.
Common Curiosities
Can Cause be both a noun and a verb?
Yes, for example: "The storm was the cause of the damage" (noun) and "The storm caused a lot of damage" (verb).
What does it mean when someone fights for a Cause?
It means they are passionately supporting or advocating for a particular principle or movement.
Can Course be used as a verb?
Yes, as in "The river courses through the valley."
How is Course used in an academic context?
It often refers to a class or series of classes on a particular topic.
What's a synonym for Cause when referring to a reason?
"Motive" or "basis" can be synonyms in that context.
Is every Course in a university about academics?
Not always. Some might be extracurricular, like a course in pottery or dance.
How is Course used in culinary terms?
It can refer to a segment of a meal, like the appetizer, main, or dessert course.
Can a virus be a Cause of illness?
Yes, viruses can be the cause of various diseases.
Can "of course" and "because" be used interchangeably?
No, "of course" usually affirms or grants permission, while "because" provides a reason.
What's a synonym for Course when talking about direction?
"Path" or "route" can be used synonymously.
Do all events have a single Cause?
No, some events can have multiple causes or a complex interplay of factors.
Is the Cause of an event always immediately clear?
No, sometimes investigations or studies are needed to determine the exact cause.
What does it mean to stay the Course?
It means to continue on a chosen path or to remain committed to an action or plan.
Can a Course of action be changed?
Yes, one can adjust or alter their course of action based on new information or circumstances.
Can Course refer to the layout of a sport?
Yes, as in a golf course or obstacle course.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
