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due to
/djuː tuː/
because of
The flight delay was due to bad weather.
The flight was delayed because of bad weather.
formalinformal
Because of; as a result of
The event was canceled due to low attendance.
The event was canceled because there were not enough attendees.
Her success is due to hard work and dedication.
Her success is a result of hard work and dedication.
Often used in formal writing and professional contexts. Can sometimes be replaced with 'because of,' though 'due to' typically follows a noun or noun phrase.
Collocations
due to bad weatherbecause of bad weatherdue to technical difficultiesbecause of technical difficulties
Synonyms
Antonyms
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Grammar Tip
Use 'due to' after a noun or noun phrase, not a verb. For example, 'The cancellation was due to rain' is correct, but 'The cancellation was due to because it rained' is incorrect.
Gold Rule
Correct Usage
Always use 'due to' after a noun or noun phrase. For example: 'The delay was due to bad weather.' Avoid using it after a verb or clause.
Word Origin
From Middle English 'due' (meaning 'owed') and 'to' (preposition). The phrase 'due to' emerged in the 17th century to indicate causation.
Usage Notes
While 'due to' and 'because of' are often interchangeable, 'due to' must follow a noun or noun phrase. For example, 'The delay was due to rain' is correct, but 'The delay was due to because it rained' is incorrect. Use 'because of' for clauses or phrases starting with verbs.
Word Breakdown
due
owed or required
adjectiveto
preposition indicating direction or cause
prepositionEnglish Dictionary