Sentence Correction

Could a top notch BTG grammar guru or expert please explain the key differences?

Definitions on the web are confusing.

I want to determine the difference so I can apply that knowledge to "due to" vs. "because of" usage.

Thanks!

pkw209 ---

Actually speaking, we use these words to give the reason that supports the phrase which precedes(due to, because of). Means, the reason should follow these words (due to, because of).

But the main difference is:

due to === Cause (or) effect. When we want to refer to the cause/effect, then only we have to use "due to". Lets look at the example,

The failure in this exam is due to the lack of confidence.

here, the cause for failure is the lack of confidence (or) we can say, the lack of confidence effects in failure of the exam.

because of == This is also used when we want to give any reason, but the phrase precedes "because of" should be the completed action. Lets say, for example,

I failed in this exam because of the lack of confidence.

Here, its clearly saying I failed (completed action). So, we are giving reason for a completed action.

I think this might help you.

Try to answer these simple questions:

1. The Train was delayed due to rain. [ correct / not correct]
2. The trains arrive lately because of rain. [ correct / not correct]

Good luck, that's it as of now,

Thank you,
Rajesh,
Loves GMAT....!!!!

rajeshsources wrote:pkw209 ---

Actually speaking, we use these words to give the reason that supports the phrase which precedes(due to, because of). Means, the reason should follow these words (due to, because of).

But the main difference is:

due to === Cause (or) effect. When we want to refer to the cause/effect, then only we have to use "due to". Lets look at the example,

The failure in this exam is due to the lack of confidence.

here, the cause for failure is the lack of confidence (or) we can say, the lack of confidence effects in failure of the exam.

because of == This is also used when we want to give any reason, but the phrase precedes "because of" should be the completed action. Lets say, for example,

I failed in this exam because of the lack of confidence.

Here, its clearly saying I failed (completed action). So, we are giving reason for a completed action.

I think this might help you.

Try to answer these simple questions:

1. The Train was delayed due to rain. [ correct / not correct]
2. The trains arrive lately because of rain. [ correct / not correct]

Good luck, that's it as of now,

Thank you,
Rajesh,
Loves GMAT....!!!!

Thanks for nice explanation:

1. The Train was delayed due to rain. -->not correct: It should be because of
2. The trains arrive lately because of rain. -->correct

Some more explanations
---------------------------------

Owing to and Due to

"Owing to" is adverbial
"Due to" is adjectival
Due to = attributable to
Owing to = because of

The road was closed owing to difficult conditions.
Here the difficult conditions did not cause the road but rather its closure.

There was an influx of visitors to the attraction due to the recently installed exhibition.
Here the recently installed exhibition resulted in an influx of visitors - that is to say a noun.

Owing to/because of your negligence, the dog ran away from home.

The accident was due to/attributable to alcohol.

Owing to bad weather, this morning's flight will be delayed.
He is retiring due to ill health.

Due to Vs Because of Vs Because
Due to - As a result of
Because of - On account of
Due to is an adjectival prepositional phrase, meaning it modifies a noun. It is commonly preceded by a form of the verb to be (be, is, are, was, were, etc.). Because it follows a be verb, it is considered a subject complement: It modifies the subject of the sentence.

Ex: His loss was due to a broken tie rod.

In the above example, the adjectival prepositional phrase due to a broken tie rod follows was (a form of the verb to be) and modifies the subject of the sentence: His loss.

Because of is an adverbial prepositional phrase, meaning it modifies a verb. It usually answers the question, "Why?"

Ex: He lost because of a broken tie rod.

The adverbial prepositional phrase because of a broken tie rod follows the verb lost, as seen in this example, answers the question, "Why did he lose?"

'Due to' needs to be followed by a noun (or noun phrase).
e.g. Due to the late arrival of the train, I missed my interview

'because' is a conjunction joining a clause expressing reason to the main clause in a sentence. So, it is followed by a verb with its own subject.
e.g. I missed my interview because the train arrived late

Give him what is due to him (Payable to)
The bus is due to arrive soon (Likely to)
Everything I own is due to my own successes (Properly owed to)
His weight is due to his lack of exercise (Following "to be")
Bill's success is due to wisdom and motivation
(The phrase "due to" modifies success, not wisdom).

The phrase "because of" should modify verbs as in this example:

Bill resigned because of poor health
(The phrase "because of " modifies resigned)

Use 'because of' in sentences where you can ask the question Why?.

Due to is mostly used in place of 'caused by'.

The number of acres destroyed by wildfires, which have become an ongoing threat because of drought and booming population density, has increased dramatically over the past several years, prompting major concern among local politicians.
Why have wildfires become an ongoing threat?
Because of drought and booming ...
"have become an ongoing threat" is a verb phrase.

We were late because it rained.
Why were we late?
Because it rained.

The game was postponed because of/due to rain."

Why was the game postponed? Because of rain.

"The game's postponement was due to rain
In this sentence can we ask the why question? No we can't.
So we don't use because, we'll use due to

Great examples, akhp77. This really clarified things for me.

There seems to be an inconsistency, though:

akhp77 wrote: e.g. Due to the late arrival of the train, I missed my interview

This example seems to violate the principle that "due to" is an adjectival phrase.
If we said it as "Caused by the late arrival of the train, I missed my interview.", it wouldn't make any sense.

Maybe you could have written:
The cancellation of my interview was due to the late arrival of the train.