“Due to” vs “Because of”

Can “due to” and “because of” be used interchangeably?

While they are often used interchangeably in informal speech, there is a difference in their formal usage. “Due to” modifies nouns and is used after a form of the verb “to be,” whereas “because of” modifies verbs and indicates the reason for an action.

Can “because of” start a sentence?

Yes, “because of” can start a sentence when providing a reason for something. For example, “Because of the rain, the event was postponed.”

Can “due to” modify verbs?

Traditionally, “due to” is not used to modify verbs directly. It modifies nouns or pronouns. When you need to modify a verb, use “because of.”

How do I use “due to” in a complex sentence?

In a complex sentence, “due to” should follow a noun or a form of “to be” and precede the cause of a state or condition. For example, “The match’s cancellation was due to the snowstorm.”

“Due to” and “Because of” are both used to indicate reasons or causes in English, but they are used in slightly different grammatical contexts and have subtle differences in meaning.

“Due to” means something happened as a direct result of something else and is often used in more formal contexts. “Because of” points out the cause of an action rather directly and is suitable for both formal and informal contexts.