because of illness

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "because of illness" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to explain a reason for an action or situation that is related to health issues. Example: "She had to cancel her trip because of illness."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

55 human-written examples

(Her appearance was cancelled because of illness).

The New York Times - Arts

She withdrew because of illness.

The New York Times - Arts

(One dropped out later because of illness).

The New York Times - Magazine

Ms. Delunsch has canceled her appearance because of illness.

The New York Times

He had not performed in recent years because of illness.

The Guardian - Music

Today's ceremony had to be delayed because of illness.

The Guardian

Rafael Suárez, a tenor, was absent because of illness.

The New York Times - Arts

Because of illness, his father never saw him dance.

The New York Times

A further two pupils were absent because of illness.

The Guardian

Saturday's first start came about because of illness.

The New York Times - Sports

Mr. Uusitalo has withdrawn because of illness, the Met said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

For formal writing, consider using more sophisticated alternatives like "attributable to a medical condition" or "in consequence of ill health" for a more professional tone.

Common error

While grammatically correct, "because of illness" can sound overly formal in casual conversation. In informal settings, consider using phrases like "sick" or "under the weather" for a more natural tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "because of illness" functions as an adverbial phrase, specifically a causal adjunct. It modifies a clause by providing the reason or cause for the action or state described in the clause. The examples Ludwig provides clearly illustrate this function.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

74%

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

1%

Less common in

Science

1%

Social Media

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "because of illness" is a grammatically correct and very common phrase used to indicate a causal relationship where illness is the reason for an event. According to Ludwig, the phrase functions as an adverbial phrase, explaining why something happened. While generally neutral, it can lean slightly towards formal, making it suitable for professional, news-related, and general contexts. As the examples in Ludwig suggest, it is primarily used in news and media. Although "because of illness" is considered correct, in informal writing, you may wish to consider alternative phrases such as "due to sickness" or "on account of being unwell".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

due to sickness

Replaces "illness" with "sickness", offering a slightly less formal alternative.

brought on by sickness

Similar to "due to sickness" but places more emphasis on the sickness as the active agent.

on account of being unwell

More descriptive and slightly more formal than "because of illness".

as a result of poor health

Emphasizes the state of health as the cause, sounding more formal.

stemming from a bout of sickness

Suggests a temporary period of sickness as the reason.

owing to a health problem

Uses "health problem" instead of "illness", suggesting a broader range of potential health issues.

resulting from a health issue

Similar to "owing to a health problem" but emphasizes the consequence.

caused by a disease

Specifically points to a disease as the cause, which is more direct.

attributable to a medical condition

Highly formal and often used in medical or legal contexts.

in consequence of being sick

Highly formal alternative, emphasizing the result of the sickness.

FAQs

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

You can use alternatives like "due to sickness", "on account of being unwell", or "as a result of poor health" depending on the context.

Is "because of illness" formal or informal?

The phrase "because of illness" is generally considered neutral to slightly formal. Its formality depends on the context, but it fits well in professional and news-related scenarios. In very informal contexts, consider using simpler language.

How to use "because of illness" in a sentence?

You can use "because of illness" to explain the reason for an absence, cancellation, or change in plans. For example, "The meeting was postponed "because of illness"" or "She couldn't attend the conference "because of illness"."

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

"Due to illness" and "because of illness" are often used interchangeably, but some grammar purists argue that "due to" should only modify nouns, while "because of" can modify verbs. However, in modern usage, both are widely accepted and essentially equivalent.