What Does "due to" Mean?
- Grammatical function: "Due to" primarily functions as an adjectival phrase expressing causality. It links a noun to its cause or indicates that something is attributable to a specific source. Additionally, it is used to express expectation or scheduling (e.g., "due to arrive").
- Typical sentence position: It most commonly appears in the medial position following a linking verb, though it is frequently seen in the initial position in modern usage.
- Register: It is generally considered formal to neutral. While ubiquitous in journalism and business, it is a staple of academic and technical writing.
How to Use It
- Syntactic patterns: In traditional grammar, "due to" should follow a form of the verb to be (e.g., "The delay was due to rain"). It is followed by a noun phrase or a gerund. When used to mean "scheduled," it is followed by a to-infinitive.
- Punctuation rules: If starting a sentence with "due to" (acting as a prepositional phrase), a comma should typically separate the introductory phrase from the main clause. No comma is needed when it follows a linking verb.
- Grammatical flexibility: While it can start a sentence in contemporary English, many style guides prefer "Because of" for sentence-initial adverbial roles. It can be negated (e.g., "not due to") and modified by adverbs like "partly" or "largely."
- What sounds unnatural or incorrect: Using "due to" to modify an entire sentence's action rather than a specific noun is often flagged by purists. For example, "He arrived late due to traffic" is often corrected to "He arrived late because of traffic."
Real-World Examples
These examples are sourced from due to on Ludwig.guru.
"The difference was due to groundwater." — newyorker.com
"It's partly due to convenience." — nytimes.com
"He is due to be sentenced March 18." — nytimes.com
"Heavy congestion due to diverting traffic." — independent.co.uk
"That is due to change." — forbes.com
Similar Phrases and Alternatives
| Phrase |
Context |
| because of |
The most common adverbial alternative; suitable for any part of a sentence. |
| owing to |
Slightly more formal; traditionally preferred over 'due to' at the start of a sentence. |
| on account of |
Formal and explanatory; often used to justify a decision or situation. |
| attributable to |
Highly formal and precise; used in scientific or technical reporting. |
| thanks to |
Neutral to informal; often implies a positive cause, though can be used sarcastically. |
| scheduled to |
Specific alternative for the "expected time" sense of 'due to'. |
Common Mistakes
- Adverbial misuse: Using "due to" to modify a verb instead of a noun. Traditionalists argue it should only modify nouns via a linking verb.
- Redundancy: Writing "the reason is due to," which creates a tautology. Use "the reason is that" or "this is due to."
- Confusion with 'because of': Learners often use it interchangeably with 'because of' at the start of a sentence, though traditional prescriptive grammar suggests 'due to' should only follow a linking verb to modify a noun.
Quick-Reference Summary
| Expression |
Function |
Register |
Typical Position |
| due to |
Causal/Attributive |
Formal/Neutral |
Medial (after 'be' verb) |
FAQs
Can I start a sentence with due to or must it only appear in the middle?
While contemporary writers frequently use due to at the start of a sentence, traditionalists prefer it to remain in the medial position following a linking verb. If you are writing for a very strict academic audience, consider starting your sentence with owing to or because of instead.
What is the primary difference between due to and because of?
Grammatically, due to functions as an adjective and should modify a noun, whereas because of functions as an adverb and modifies a verb. A simple test is to see if you can replace the phrase with attributable to; if it works, due to is likely correct.
Is it always correct to use due to when explaining a cause?
Learners often use it interchangeably with because of at the start of a sentence, though traditional prescriptive grammar suggests due to should only follow a linking verb to modify a noun. In informal speech, this distinction is often ignored, but it remains a key rule in formal style guides like the Oxford or Chicago manuals.