difference is owing to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "difference is owing to" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to explain the reason or cause of a difference in a particular context. Example: "The difference in performance between the two models is owing to their distinct design features."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Take genes, environment and ability: it is easy enough to suppose that if in the same mediocre environment Tom develops his educational and career opportunities better than Harry, then this difference is owing to genes.

The New York Times - Books

The difference is owing to assumptions regarding male limitation [Boyle M, Hone J, Schwanz L, Georges A: Under what conditions do climate-driven sex ratios enhance versus diminish population persistence? Ecology and Evolution. submitted] – we assume that female fecundity is only reduced when males are less than 10% of the adult population.

BMC Ecology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

The difference is owed to reduced capillary suction behavior of pore solution holding polycarboxylate superplasticizer.

Construction and Building Materials

This difference is owed to the continued depletion of soil fertility caused by decades of extracting nitrogen, phosphorus and carbon during crop harvests without replenishing these important elements via fertilizers, organic or mineral, a practice that the rest of the world has adopted.

Huffington Post

The majority of this difference was owing to a reduced rate of local doctor review for episodes treated with prednisolone.

British Medical Journal

Measurement of the haptoglobin levels did not show a difference between the control and cancer patients, but as multiple proteins were found in the peak it is quite possible that the difference was owing to an altered level of one or both of the other proteins, as we show here for α1-antitrypsin.

British Journal of Cancer

We cannot conclude that differences were owing to our methodology as our PCR and sequencing methods were robust and results repeatable.

British Journal of Cancer

Such differences were owing to the average patient age and average age of death from prostate cancer being higher than those with other cancers.

BMC Health Services Research

Because the arrangements were originally identified from massively parallel sequencing to generate comprehensive genomic profiles, we cannot conclude that differences were owing to our methodology as our PCR and sequencing methods.

Cancer Medicine

Most exchangeability rates are highly correlated between MYC and WAG, and most differences were owed to radical changes that were more frequent in MYC.

Genome Biology and Evolution

It is possible that this gender difference in glucose regulation is owing to the gender difference in the strength of SGA effect.

BMJ Open

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "difference is owing to", ensure the sentence clearly identifies both the difference and its specific cause to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

While grammatically correct, "difference is owing to" can sound overly formal in casual contexts. Consider alternatives like "difference is because of" or "difference is due to" for a more natural tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "difference is owing to" functions as a causal connector, linking a difference to its cause or reason. As noted by Ludwig AI, this expresses that a particular dissimilarity exists because of a specific factor.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

60%

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "difference is owing to" is a grammatically sound and usable English expression that indicates a causal relationship between a difference and its reason. As Ludwig AI suggests, it's more formal and frequently found in scientific and news contexts. While correct, consider using less formal alternatives like "difference is due to" in casual settings. Remember, clarity and precision are key when explaining differences.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

difference is due to

Similar meaning but perhaps more common in modern usage.

difference stems from

This alternative directly attributes the origin of the difference.

difference arises from

Focuses on the origin or source from which the difference emerges.

difference results from

Emphasizes the difference as a consequence or outcome.

difference is attributable to

More formal, assigning the difference to a specific cause.

difference is a consequence of

Highlights the cause-and-effect relationship.

difference is because of

A more direct and slightly less formal way to indicate causation.

reason for the difference is

Specifies that the explanation provided will address the dissimilarity.

difference is created by

Underscores how the dissimilarity has been generated.

dissimilarity is caused by

Explicitly states that the difference is a direct result of the reason.

FAQs

What does "difference is owing to" mean?

The phrase "difference is owing to" means that a particular difference exists because of a specific reason or cause. It's a way of attributing the difference to that cause.

How can I use "difference is owing to" in a sentence?

You can use "difference is owing to" when you want to explain the reason behind a dissimilarity. For example: "The "difference in performance" is owing to the updated software."

What are some alternatives to "difference is owing to"?

Alternatives to "difference is owing to" include phrases like "difference is due to", "difference stems from", or "difference results from", which offer similar meanings with slight variations in formality.

Is "difference is owing to" more formal than "difference is due to"?

Yes, "difference is owing to" is generally considered more formal than "difference is due to". The latter is more commonly used in contemporary English.