What is the Difference Between Due To and Because Of?
🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚The difference between "due to" and "because of" lies in their grammatical functions and the type of word they modify. Here are the key distinctions:
- Due to:
- Functions as an adjective, modifying nouns or noun phrases.
- Presents a reason for a noun.
- Should come after a noun or noun phrase.
- Can be replaced with "caused by".
- Because of:
- Functions as an adverb, modifying verbs or adjectives.
- Presents a reason for a verb or an adjective.
- Should come after a verb or an adjective.
Examples:
- Correct: The cancellation was due to rain.
- Incorrect: The cancellation was due to because of rain.
- Correct: The business failed because of its poor location.
- Incorrect: The business failed due to its poor location.
In summary, "due to" should be used to modify nouns and present reasons for a noun, while "because of" should be used to modify verbs or adjectives and present reasons for an action or state.
Comparative Table: Due To vs Because Of
The phrases "due to" and "because of" both show a cause-and-effect relationship, but they are not grammatically equivalent. Here is a table summarizing the differences between the two phrases:
| Feature | Due to | Because of |
|---|---|---|
| Function | Modifies nouns | Modifies verbs |
| Example 1. The traffic jam was due to a terrible accident. | The cancellation was because of heavy rain. | |
| Example 2. The cancellation was due to poor management. | The smoke in the home was because of the burning cake. |
"Due to" is used to modify nouns and should come after a noun, while "because of" is used to modify verbs and should come after a verb. Note that the short sentence "Due to heavy rain, the trip was canceled" is considered incorrect, as "due to" should not be used to modify a verb. In everyday speech, the distinction between "due to" and "because of" may not be crucial, but in formal writing, it is essential to use the correct phrase.
- Because vs Because Of
- Because vs Since
- Why vs Because
- Cause vs Effect
- Cause vs Reason
- So vs Therefore
- How vs Why
- By vs Through
- In spite of vs Despite of
- By vs From
- Therefore vs Thus
- Although vs Even Though
- However vs Although
- For vs Since
- Of vs From
- Cause vs Factor
- Although vs Though
- Thereby vs Therefore
- Even If vs Even Though