What Does "due to the fact that" Mean?
- Grammatical function: This expression serves as a compound conjunction that establishes a causal relationship. It introduces a subordinate clause that explains the reason or motive for the main action or state described in the sentence.
- Typical sentence position: It is most commonly found in the medial position (following a main clause), though it can occasionally appear in the initial position for emphasis. It rarely appears in the final position without a following clause.
- Register: This is a highly formal expression. It is frequently used in academic papers, legal documents, and scientific reports to provide a more weighty or precise tone than the simpler "because."
How to Use It
- Syntactic patterns: The phrase is always followed by a full clause (subject + verb). For example: "The event was canceled due to the fact that [subject] it [verb] rained."
- Punctuation rules: When used in the middle of a sentence to provide essential information, it usually requires no comma. However, if it begins a sentence, the entire introductory dependent clause must be followed by a comma before the main clause begins.
- Grammatical flexibility: It is quite flexible; it can be modified by adverbs like partly, largely, or mainly. While it can start a sentence, doing so is often considered stylistically heavy in modern English.
- What sounds unnatural or incorrect: Using this phrase in casual conversation or informal emails sounds overly stiff. Additionally, it should not be followed by a simple noun phrase (use "due to" instead).
Real-World Examples
These examples are sourced from due to the fact that on Ludwig.guru.
"We begin to wonder if it is due to the fact that we don't know enough." — stanford.edu
"SSRi's don't work due to the fact that depression probably has nothing to do with monoamines." — harvard.edu
"This can only be due to the fact that the Universe is expanding." — cornell.edu
"Though that is largely due to the fact that rain has delayed the start of play." — theguardian.com
"This is due to the fact that STAT2 is triggered by stress19." — nature.com
Similar Phrases and Alternatives
Depending on the level of formality or the specific situation, you might want to vary your language.
| Phrase |
Context |
| because |
The most common and direct alternative; suitable for almost any context. |
| since |
Slightly more formal than because; often used when the reason is already known to the reader. |
| as |
Common in British English; used to introduce a reason that is already evident. |
| owing to the fact that |
Highly formal and synonymous with the target phrase; used in legal or official writing. |
| on account of the fact that |
A wordy, formal alternative often used to explain a specific circumstance or problem. |
| inasmuch as |
Very formal; used to explain to what extent something is true based on a cause. |
Common Mistakes
- Wordiness: Many editors consider this phrase a "filler" and suggest replacing it with a single word like "because" to improve clarity.
- Confusion with 'due to': Learners often forget the "fact that" part when they want to follow the expression with a clause. Remember: due to is followed by a noun, while due to the fact that is followed by a clause.
- Learners often use this phrase in informal contexts where 'because' or 'since' would be more appropriate, or they redundanty add 'because' before it.
Quick-Reference Summary
| Expression |
Function |
Register |
Typical Position |
| due to the fact that |
Causal Conjunction |
Formal |
Medial / Initial |
FAQs
Can I start a sentence with due to the fact that
Yes, you can use due to the fact that at the beginning of a sentence to introduce a subordinate clause. However, if you do this, you must separate the dependent clause from the main clause with a comma.
How does this expression differ from the word because
While both express causality, due to the fact that is significantly more formal and is often viewed as wordy or redundant by modern style guides. In most professional and creative writing, because is preferred for its brevity and directness.
Is it correct to say because due to the fact that
No, this is a redundant error because both terms perform the exact same grammatical function. Learners often use this phrase in informal contexts where because or since would be more appropriate, or they redundantly add because before it, which should be avoided.