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Anonymous Posted 14 years ago
Vocabulary
Due to OR because of?
Hello,
More and more, on the radio, TV and print I hear and see the words "due to" used where I believe it should be " because of". or just "because". For example: The traffiic on the M1 is slow on the south bound carriage, due to a lorry shedding its load. Should this be "because a lorry has shed its load? I'm not sure that I'm right, but it is niggling me and feels wrong, can anyone let me know if it matters which one is used? Thank you Anya
More and more, on the radio, TV and print I hear and see the words "due to" used where I believe it should be " because of". or just "because". For example: The traffiic on the M1 is slow on the south bound carriage, due to a lorry shedding its load. Should this be "because a lorry has shed its load? I'm not sure that I'm right, but it is niggling me and feels wrong, can anyone let me know if it matters which one is used? Thank you Anya
Top answer
I sympathize, but it is a trend that can no longer be stopped. Here is one dictionary's discussion: Usage Note: Due to has been widely used for many years as a compound preposition like owing to, but some critics have insisted that due should be used only as an adjective. According to this view, it is incorrect to say The concert was canceled due to the rain, but acceptable to say The cancellation of the concert was due to the rain, where due continues to function as an adjective modifying cancellation.
- I sympathize, but it is a trend that can no longer be stopped.
- Here is one dictionary's discussion: Usage Note: Due to has been widely used for many years as a compound preposition like owing to, but some critics have insisted that due should be used only as an adjective.
- According to this view, it is incorrect to say The concert was canceled due to the rain, but acceptable to say The cancellation of the concert was due to the rain, where due continues to function as an adjective modifying cancellation.
- This seems a fine point, however, and since due to is widely used and understood, there seems little reason to avoid using it as a preposition.
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2 Answers
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I sympathize, but it is a trend that can no longer be stopped. Here is one dictionary's discussion:
Usage Note:
Due to has been widely used for many years as a compound preposition likeowing to, but some critics have insisted that due should be used only as an adjective. According to this view, it is incorrect to say The concert was canceled due to the
Usage Note:
Due to has been widely used for many years as a compound preposition likeowing to, but some critics have insisted that due should be used only as an adjective. According to this view, it is incorrect to say The concert was canceled due to the
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