What is the Difference Between “Due to” and “Because of”?
Here’s a comparison table that helps to understand the difference between “due to” and “because of”
| Aspect | Due to | Because of |
|---|---|---|
| Usage | As an adjectival phrase modifying nouns or pronouns. | As an adverbial phrase modifying verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs. |
| Function in a Sentence | Often follows a form of the verb “to be” and modifies nouns. | Provides the reason for an action, directly modifying the action (verb) of the sentence. |
| Context | More formal, preferred in written or academic contexts. | Versatile, used in both formal and informal contexts. |
| Meaning | Implies a direct cause-and-effect relationship. | Indicates the reason or cause for an action or situation. |
| Examples | “The delay was due to heavy traffic.” | “We arrived late because of heavy traffic.” |
| Interchangeability | Sometimes used interchangeably in informal contexts but has specific grammatical rules. | More flexible in usage and commonly used in everyday language. |
“Due to” vs “Because of” | Differences & Examples
“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.