because of traffic

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "because of traffic" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to explain a reason for a delay or an issue related to transportation or travel. Example: "I was late to the meeting because of traffic on the highway."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Many students do not walk to school because they live too far or because of traffic danger.

HuffPost

Or they have lost their licenses because of traffic violations.

The New York Times

Still, the event on Friday was delayed because of traffic.

The Guardian

Often the road, because of traffic or ragged pavement or a narrow shoulder, demands vigilant attention.

The New York Times

Streets all around face a constant backlog because of traffic in the square.

Independent

It is to be on Thursday of this week, at night because of traffic.

The New Yorker

He added: "Wall Street is basically inaccessible to our drivers because of traffic restrictions.

The New York Times

Because of traffic, however, passengers were delayed for more than an hour.

The New York Times

Because of traffic, I missed my 6 25 p.m., Continental's last flight home.

The New York Times - Travel

Despite the guarantee, he almost missed the concert because of traffic on the West Side Highway.

The New York Times

Commutes are fairly short and frequently at low speeds because of traffic jams.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "because of traffic", consider the tone and context of your writing. While it's generally acceptable in most situations, more formal alternatives like "due to traffic" or "owing to traffic" may be more appropriate for professional or academic writing.

Common error

Avoid using "because of traffic" when traffic is merely correlated with an event but not directly causing it. Ensure that traffic is the actual reason for the stated outcome, not just a contributing factor.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "because of traffic" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to indicate the reason or cause for an action or situation. Ludwig examples show that the phrase typically introduces an explanation for delays, changes in plans, or negative consequences.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Wiki

17%

Science

6%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "because of traffic" is a commonly used and grammatically correct phrase that serves as a causal connector, frequently appearing in News & Media. Ludwig AI indicates the phrase is suitable for explaining delays or disruptions caused by traffic congestion. While generally neutral, you can adjust the formality by opting for alternatives like "due to traffic". Be sure that traffic is the direct cause of what you are explaining to avoid misuse.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

due to traffic

Replaces "because of" with "due to", a more formal alternative.

caused by traffic

Highlights traffic as the direct cause.

owing to traffic

Uses "owing to" instead of "because of", providing a slightly more formal tone.

as a result of traffic

Emphasizes the consequence of traffic.

as a consequence of traffic

Stresses the resulting effect of the traffic situation.

on account of traffic

Offers a slightly more archaic alternative to "because of".

by reason of traffic

Provides a formal substitution for "because of".

attributable to traffic

Suggests traffic is the reason that can be attributed.

thanks to traffic

Uses "thanks to" sarcastically to indicate a negative outcome caused by traffic.

Traffic-related delay

A noun phrase focusing on the delay caused by traffic.

FAQs

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

You can use "because of traffic" to explain delays or issues caused by road congestion. For example, "I was late to the meeting "because of traffic" on the highway".

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

"Due to traffic" and "because of traffic" are often interchangeable, but "due to" is generally considered more formal. You can use either depending on the context, although the more formal phrasing will lend itself better to professional or academic documents.

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

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

Is it correct to say "traffic is because of an accident"?

No, the phrasing "traffic is because of an accident" is grammatically awkward. It's better to say "because of an accident, there is traffic" or "traffic is delayed because of an accident".