The Difference Between "Due to" and "Because Of" - Reader's ...

When writing, a lot of people tend to opt for “due to” over “because of” since it's short and sweet, and somehow sounds a bit more formal. But ... ShareSaveSavedShareonFacebookSaveonPinterestTweetthisEmailNextSkiptomaincontentMENUTheHealthyFoodHomeHumorKnowledgeHolidaysVideosSubscribeSearchtermsSearchformsubmitbuttonToggleSearchSignUpForOurNewslettersSignUpforOurNewslettersRD.COMKnowledgeGrammar&SpellingThisIstheRealDifferenceBetween“Dueto”and“BecauseOf”MarissaLaliberteUpdated:Jul.14,2021NicoleFornabaio/rd.comIfyouthinkyoucanuse"becauseof"and"dueto"interchangeably,watchout:Thegrammarnerdsarecomingforyou.Here'showtoprotectyourself.Grammarcanbetrickybusiness,andwhatsoundsrightoutloudisn’talwaysacceptedbylanguagepurists.Taketheusageof“dueto”and“becauseof”:Bothphrasespointtoacause-and-effectrelationship,butthere’sasubtledifference.Makesureyoualsocheckoutthegrammarrulesthatchangedinthelastdecade.What’sthedifferencebetweenthetwophrases?Whenwriting,alotofpeopletendtooptfor“dueto”over“becauseof”sinceit’sshortandsweet,andsomehowsoundsabitmoreformal.Butaccordingtotraditionalgrammarrules,it’susuallynottherightchoice.Technicallyspeaking,“dueto”shouldonlybeusedasanadjectiveandcomeafteranoun.Forinstance,youcouldsay:Thecancellationwasduetorain.“Cancellation”isanoun,and“dueto”isdescribingit.“Becauseof,”ontheotherhand,shouldmodifyverbs.Soyoumightwanttosay:Thegamewascanceledbecauseofrain.“Wascanceled”isaverbphrase,whichmakes“becauseof”therightchoice.Nowtrytowrapyourbrainaroundthe20mostconfusinggrammarrules.SomeeasywaystorememberAnothereasywaytoremembertheruleisthat“dueto”canbesubbedoutfor“causedby.”Acancellationcanbecausedbyrain,buttosayitwascanceledcausedbyrainjustwouldn’tmakesense.Hereareacouplemoreexamplestohelpyouvisualizethedifference:Right:Thebusinessfailedbecauseofitspoorlocation.Wrong:Thebusinessfailedduetoitspoorlocation.Right:Thebusiness’sfailurewasduetopoorlocation.Wrong:Thebusiness’sfailurewasbecauseofpoorlocation.Ofcourse,languagechangeswiththetimes,andplentyofgrammarexpertshavearguedthatthe“dueto”vs.“becauseof”ruleisn’trelevantanymore.Ineverydayspeech,youprobablydon’tneedtofeelself-consciousaboutusingthe“wrong”one,butifyouknowyou’reemailingagrammarstickler,youmightwanttoplayitsafeandkeepthisruleinmind.Youwouldn’twanttobemockedbecauseofbadgrammar,wouldyou?Thatsaid,hereareothergrammarrulesyoucansafelyignore.TatianaAyazo/Rd.com14GrammarMythsYourEnglishTeacherLiedtoYouAboutNicoleFornabaio/rd.comThe20MostConfusingRulesintheGrammarWorldTatianaAyazo/Rd.com20GrammarJokesEveryWordNerdWillAppreciatePopularVideosⓘOriginallyPublished:June25,2020MarissaLaliberteMarissaLaliberte-SimonianisaLondon-basedassociateeditorwiththeglobalpromotionsteamatWebMD’sMedscape.comandwaspreviouslyastaffwriterforReader'sDigest.HerworkhasalsoappearedinBusinessInsider,Parentsmagazine,CreakyJoints,andtheBaltimoreSun.YoucanfindheronInstagram@marissasimonian.MarissaLaliberte-SimonianisaLondon-basedassociateeditorwiththeglobalpromotionsteamatWebMD’sMedscape.comandwaspreviouslyastaffwriterforReader'sDigest.HerworkhasalsoappearedinBusinessInsider,Parentsmagazine,CreakyJoints,andtheBaltimoreSun.YoucanfindheronInstagram@marissasimonian.MarissaLaliberte-SimonianisaLondon-basedassociateeditorwiththeglobalpromotionsteamatWebMD’sMedscape.comandwaspreviouslyastaffwriterforReader'sDigest.HerworkhasalsoappearedinBusinessInsider,Parentsmagazine,CreakyJoints,andtheBaltimoreSun.YoucanfindheronInstagram@marissasimonian.NewsletterUnitSignupforarticlessentrighttoyourinboxEnjoythebeststories,advice&jokesdeliveredrighttoyourinbox!SignUpCMUUnitSubscribe&SAVESaveUpTo84%!SubscribeNowNowTrendingEveryCyberWeekSaleWorthShoppingThisWeek:FromCozySockstoPetCamerasWhatGIFStandsforandHowtoPronounceItToWhomItMayConcern:WhatItMeansandHowtoUseItWearenolongersupportingIE(InternetExplorer)aswestrivetoprovidesiteexperiencesforbrowsersthatsupportnewwebstandardsandsecuritypractices.Werecommendouruserstoupdatethebrowser.GoogleChromeAppleSafariMozillaFirefoxMicrosoftEdgeArts&EntertainmentMoreItemsBooksPersonalityTypeQuotesRoyalFamilyZodiacALLARTS&ENTERTAINMENTBeauty&FashionMoreItemsClothingHairCareHairStylesMakeupShoes&AccessoriesSkincareALLBEAUTY&FASHIONFoodMoreItemsHealthyEatingNews&AdviceRecipesALLFOODHolidays&ObservancesHomeMoreItemsCleaningDecorDIYGardeningOrganizingPestControlRepairALLHOMEHumorMoreItemsCartoonsFunnyStories&PhotosJokesALLHUMORJokesMoreItemsSubmitYourJokeSubmitYourCartoonCornyJokesFunnyOne-LinersKnock-KnockJokesRiddlesALLJOKESKnowledgeMoreItemsBrainGamesEtiquetteFactsGrammar&SpellingPsychologyALLKNOWLEDGEMoneyMoreItemsBudgetingDealsRetirementScamsSpendingTaxesALLMONEYPets&AnimalsMoreItemsCatsDogsALLPETS&ANIMALSRelationshipsMoreItemsDatingFriendshipsMarriageParentingALLRELATIONSHIPSTechMoreItemsInternetPersonalTechALLTECHTravelMoreItemsAirlinesAirportSecurityPacking&AccessoriesVacationsALLTRAVELTrueStoriesMoreItemsHolidayStoriesInspiringStoriesLoveStoriesNicestPlacesSurvivalStoriesALLTRUESTORIESWork&CareerMoreItemsCareerPlanningSucceedingatWorkALLWORK&CAREERVideosContestsShopSubscribeNewslettersAboutUsFollowUsMoreItemsFacebookPinterestInstagramTwitter