What is the correct usage of causative and causal? If, for example, you want to describe the etiological agent of a disease, would you call it a “causative agent” or a “causal agent”?
Causative or Causal?
October 28th, 2009 by Simon
3 Responses to “Causative or Causal?”
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‘Causal’ means of or relating to cause or arising from a cause. ‘Causative’ means operating as a cause or expressing a cause. In describing an etiological agent, ‘causative’ is the accurate word. ‘Causal’ would be used to describe the relation between the agent and the infirmity.
I’d say that causative would mean that the agent is the direct cause of the disease, whereas if you use the word causal, I’d expect it to be perhaps one of several candidates, or perhaps one in a series of possible steps in causing the disease.
So, it seems, there is a causal relationship between a causative and its result.