because of awkwardness

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "because of awkwardness" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to explain a situation or behavior that arises due to feelings of discomfort or clumsiness in social interactions. Example: "She avoided eye contact during the conversation because of awkwardness, making it difficult to connect."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

It is a book full of anger and violence and disaster and weird sex and strange new realities, a book that seems to want to hold all of Japan inside of it — a book that, even despite its occasional awkwardness (or maybe even because of that awkwardness), makes you marvel, reading it, at all the strange folds a single human brain can hold.

The New York Times - Magazine

You don't need to be cute about the fact that you had a reason for making the first move, you didn't risk this level of awkwardness because you needed a new friend.

Forbes

Again, I think this was because of the awkwardness.

The Guardian - Books

"We have an arrears problem," said a senior administration official, who asked not to be identified because of the awkwardness of the situation.

The New York Times

These plans fell through because of the awkwardness of long-distance negotiations, with the result that Van Berckel found no residence awaiting him but was forced to stay at City Tavern (Second Street near Walnut).

Princeton University

Jean-Jacques had good reasons to assign a name to that all too common circumstance, not because of his awkwardness in company but because of the extraordinary genius he could deploy when he had the time.

The New Yorker

"Vision Disturbance" is best regarded as a showcase for Ms. Masciotti's gift for writing monologues for hapless people who achieve eloquence not despite, but because of, their awkwardness and uncertainty.

The New York Times

The difference between what people say and what they think is fertile comedy territory, but not one often explored in film or television because of the awkwardness of voiceovers.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Mining a great deal of laughter from disabling pain, it tells what Mr. Strauss says is the true story of his quest to rid himself of obsessive-compulsive disorder with psychedelic drugs, and it feels true partly because of the awkwardness that underlies his demeanor.

The New York Times

I have a soft spot for Neville, particularly because of his awkwardness, but you have to admire Hermione, because she puts the hours in at the library, she's the cement really that holds it all together, well, it would be a different story without her.

The Guardian

Jonathan Keefe of Slant Magazine admired how Swift attempted to incorporate sophisticated elements, like Romeo and Juliet and The Scarlet Letter, although it was not successful because of its awkwardness, inexplicable nature, and pointless conceit.

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "because of awkwardness", ensure that the context clearly establishes the source and nature of the awkwardness. Providing specific details can help the reader understand the cause-and-effect relationship more effectively.

Common error

While "because of awkwardness" is generally acceptable, avoid overusing it in formal or professional writing. Consider stronger, more precise alternatives like "due to social friction" or "owing to interpersonal challenges" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "because of awkwardness" functions as a causal prepositional phrase, indicating the reason or cause for a particular situation or behavior. It uses "because of" to introduce "awkwardness" as the cause, as confirmed by Ludwig's analysis.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Wiki

15%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "because of awkwardness" is a grammatically sound and usable phrase to explain situations arising from social discomfort, as confirmed by Ludwig's analysis. While "because of awkwardness" is relatively uncommon in overall usage, according to Ludwig, it is frequently found in news and media contexts. For more formal writing, consider stronger alternatives like "due to social friction". Ludwig provides example sentences for reference.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

due to the discomfort

This alternative replaces "awkwardness" with "discomfort", focusing on the feeling of unease as the cause.

owing to the unease

This phrase uses "unease" to highlight the lack of comfort as the reason.

caused by the uneasiness

This phrase is a more direct rephrasing, highlighting "uneasiness" as the direct cause.

on account of the social discomfort

This emphasizes the discomfort specifically in a social context.

as a result of the embarrassment

This option emphasizes the feeling of shame or self-consciousness as the cause.

stemming from the clumsiness

This alternative focuses on social or physical clumsiness as the origin of the situation.

attributable to the self-consciousness

This emphasizes the role of being overly aware of oneself and one's actions.

resulting from the social friction

This alternative highlights the tension and disharmony in social interactions as the root cause.

precipitated by the social gaffe

Highlights that the situation was triggered by a social mistake or blunder.

arising from the delicate situation

This alternative refers to the sensitivity and potential for problems within the context.

FAQs

What can I say instead of "because of awkwardness"?

You can use alternatives like "due to the discomfort", "owing to the unease", or "as a result of the embarrassment" depending on the specific context.

Is "because of awkwardness" grammatically correct?

Yes, "because of awkwardness" is grammatically correct. The phrase uses "because of" as a causal preposition, followed by the noun "awkwardness".

How can I use "because of awkwardness" in a sentence?

You can use "because of awkwardness" to explain why someone acted a certain way or why a situation occurred. For example: "She avoided eye contact during the conversation because of awkwardness."

What's the difference between "because of awkwardness" and "due to awkwardness"?

"Because of awkwardness" and "due to awkwardness" are very similar and often interchangeable. Both phrases indicate that something happened as a result of a feeling of awkwardness or social discomfort. The choice between them often comes down to personal preference or stylistic considerations.