due

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'due' is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used as an adjective, adverb, or noun. Example sentence: The payment was due at the beginning of the month.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

You must take legal action now or you may lose the opportunity to do so due to future legal obstacles".

The Guardian - Arts

Credit where credit is due.

The New York Times

Jonathan was due to fly to Paris on Friday for a summit hosted by François Hollande, the French president, to discuss the security threat posed by Boko Haram.

The Guardian

Nothing excludes or limits GNMA's liability for personal injury or death due to its negligence.

The Guardian

What a nightmare!" There had been delays involving Clapham Junction earlier in the rush hour due to a lineside fire which caused hold-ups to services on London Overground.

The Guardian

"This often happens following bilaterals, sometimes due to language preferences or protocols such as being able to cover broader international issues beyond the content of the bilateral," he said in a statement.

The Guardian

"It was due to the intervention of NAB and my itinerant teacher that I have been able to pick up the pieces.

The Guardian

Kansas is also $280m short on due payments for this fiscal year, following an experiment with historic tax cuts now in its fourth year.

The Guardian

His last trip was in September 2013 and due to "urgent family reasons" was he forced to postpone a trip in September this year.

The Guardian

Dutton said he had talked to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and with the biotechnology and vaccine company CSL "about work that we might be able to partner in and we'll have something further to say about that in due course".

The Guardian

Whisky was first casked here in 2013 meaning that, due to the law that whisky must be aged for at least two years, Redlands is a distillery that has opened itself up to the public without offering any of the actual stuff it makes.

The Guardian - Travel

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "due" to indicate causality, ensure it is followed by "to" and a noun phrase. For example: "The delay was due to unforeseen circumstances."

Common error

Avoid using "due" alone to express causality. Instead, use "due to" followed by a noun phrase. Incorrect: "The game was canceled due weather." Correct: "The game was canceled due to the weather."

Linguistic Context

The word "due" functions as a versatile term, acting as an adjective to indicate something owed or expected, a noun referring to what is owed or deserved, and an adverb denoting direction. Ludwig AI highlights its various applications in context.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

30%

Science

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "due" is a versatile word with multiple functions, serving as an adjective, noun, and adverb. Its primary role is to indicate causality, obligation, or expectation across various registers, as demonstrated by Ludwig's AI-powered analysis and numerous real-world examples. The word is prevalent in news, business, and scientific contexts. Its grammatical correctness is confirmed by Ludwig. Understanding its proper usage enhances clarity and precision in writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

attributable to

Replaces "due" when specifying the cause or origin of something.

owing to

Similar to "due to", but often used in more formal contexts.

because of

A more common and informal alternative to "due to".

on account of

Indicates a reason or explanation, similar to "due to" but less frequent.

as a result of

Emphasizes the consequence of a cause, where "due" simply states the cause.

in light of

Suggests that something is happening because of new information, differing slightly from a direct cause.

scheduled for

Replaces "due" in contexts related to timing or planned events.

expected to

Emphasizes anticipation, whereas "due" simply indicates a point in time.

deservedly

Focuses on merit or right, rather than obligation or causation.

appropriate for

Highlights suitability or fitness, in contrast to the notion of obligation.

FAQs

How do I use "due" in a sentence to show causality?

Use "due to" followed by a noun phrase to indicate the reason for something. For example, "The cancellation was "due to" the storm".

What can I say instead of "due" to express cause in a formal context?

In formal writing, you can use alternatives like "owing to", "attributable to", or "on account of".

When is it appropriate to use "due" as an adjective?

"Due" can be used as an adjective to mean owed, scheduled, or appropriate. For example, "The payment is "owing"", "The train is "scheduled for" arrival", or "With all "due respect"".

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

While both express causality, ""due to"" is often considered more formal. "Because of" is a more general and commonly used alternative.