The concept of "Cause" and "Effect"

Cause refers to the reason something happens, while effect is the result or outcome of that cause. They are two sides of a cause-and-effect relationship:

Cause: Why something happens.
Example: "It rained." (The cause)

Effect: What happens as a result of the cause.
Example: "The game was canceled." (The effect)

Nuance of ので

While ので grammatically marks the cause, it’s used in sentences where the effect (outcome) is closely tied to the cause and feels implied or obvious. This is why it might feel like ので emphasizes the effect, even though it formally falls under the "cause" category.

Examples to Compare:

寒いので、コートを着ます。
"Since it's cold, I'll wear a coat."

In this case, ので introduces the cause but also naturally links it to the effect.

寒いから、コートを着ます。
"Because it's cold, I'll wear a coat."

Still the same cause and effect, but から puts more weight on why you're wearing the coat (the cause), without focusing on the connection to the effect as much.