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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak
CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com
due to a setback
Grammar usage guide and real-world examplesUSAGE SUMMARY
The phrase "due to a setback" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to explain a reason or cause for a delay or problem that has occurred. Example: "The project was delayed due to a setback in the supply chain."
✓ Grammatically correct
News & Media
Science
Wiki
Alternative expressions(3)
Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Human-verified examples from authoritative sources
Exact Expressions
4 human-written examples
As the Daily Racing Form reported on January 30, Mask will miss his expected next start, the Risen Star at Fair Grounds in Louisiana on February 17, due to "a setback," the details of which trainer Chad Brown, last week voted outstanding trainer of 2017, didn't disclose.
News & Media
This marked the second time in two years that a romance between Stratus and Hardy was abruptly scrapped due to a setback in one of their personal lives.
Wiki
He said in an interview, Partially due to a setback that occurred during editing, that saw all the time codes disappear, JFK would be the last film that Stone edited on film stock before he switched to digital editing.
Wiki
Subsequently, 15 were excluded due to lack of records, four patients were excluded due to a setback procedure, and five patients were excluded due to less than 4 mm of advancement or multiple pieces of osteotomy.
Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources
Similar Expressions
56 human-written examples
The British Equestrian Federation announced on July 1 that Izzy Taylor and her ride Allercombe Ellie had been withdrawn from the team due to a "minor setback" with the horse in training.
News & Media
Some stocks currently on the Oberweis "buy" list: medical-data company eResearch Technology, which is expecting a boost in coming quarters from sales in Japan; and baby formula maker Martek Biosciences, which Yokosawa says is currently a bargain due to a temporary setback from a power outage at its manufacturing facility in Italy.
News & Media
The move comes as the previous chair, Kevin McIntyre, stepped down from leading the independent panel this week due to a "serious health setback," according to his resignation letter.
News & Media
The development of birch woodland suffered a setback due to a transient climatic oscillation some 7500 14C years ago, but recovered again relatively quickly and more than 6000 14C years ago birch woodland covered the lowland areas both in northern and southern Iceland.
Furthermore, the State Council's ambitious air pollution plan has faced major setbacks due to a lack of enforcement.
News & Media
Due to a series of legal and regulatory setbacks, media accessibility regulations for consumers who are blind and visually impaired have lagged significantly behind those for deaf individuals.
Academia
The company had a bit of a setback with photo verification, mainly due to a response that exceeded their ability to verify every picture by hand.
News & Media
Expert writing Tips
Best practice
When using "due to a setback", ensure that the setback is clearly defined or easily understood from the context. Ambiguity can weaken the sentence's impact.
Common error
Avoid starting sentences with "due to". It's generally considered better style to rephrase the sentence so "due to" follows the noun it modifies, or to use "because of" instead. For instance, instead of "Due to a setback, the project was delayed", write "The project was delayed due to a setback" or "Because of a setback, the project was delayed."
Source & Trust
81%
Authority and reliability
4.1/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested
Linguistic Context
The phrase "due to a setback" functions as a causal phrase, indicating the reason for a particular outcome. According to Ludwig AI, this phrase is considered correct and usable in written English. It links an event or situation to an impediment or delay that caused it.
Frequent in
News & Media
40%
Science
30%
Wiki
30%
Less common in
Formal & Business
0%
Encyclopedias
0%
Reference
0%
Ludwig's WRAP-UP
In summary, the phrase "due to a setback" serves as a causal connector, explaining that something happened as a consequence of a delay or impediment. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability, though it is a relatively rare phrase. While its usage is mostly distributed across News & Media, Science and Wiki sources, it maintains a neutral register suitable for various contexts. When writing, be mindful of sentence structure to enhance clarity and impact, and consider alternative phrases for variety and nuance.
More alternative expressions(6)
Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:
as a consequence of a hindrance
Replaces "setback" with "hindrance" and uses a more formal tone with "as a consequence of".
as a result of a complication
Emphasizes the outcome "as a result of" some "complication" that occurred.
owing to an impediment
Uses "owing to" for "due to" and "impediment" for "setback", offering a slightly more sophisticated tone.
resulting from a complication
Focuses on the result of a "complication" rather than a direct setback.
attributable to a problem
Uses a more formal attribution of cause, replacing "setback" with the general term "problem".
stemming from an obstacle
Indicates that the situation arises from an "obstacle", emphasizing the blocking nature of the setback.
arising from a difficulty
Similar to "stemming from", but uses "difficulty" to describe the nature of the setback.
because of a hitch
Employs "hitch" for "setback", providing a more informal and less severe connotation.
on account of a delay
Highlights the "delay" aspect of a setback, suitable when the time factor is crucial.
caused by an issue
A simpler and more direct alternative, using "issue" to broadly represent the setback.
FAQs
How can I use "due to a setback" in a sentence?
Use "due to a setback" to explain the cause of a delay or problem. For example, "The product launch was postponed "due to a setback" in production".
What are some alternatives to saying "due to a setback"?
You can use alternatives like "because of a delay", "as a result of a problem", or "owing to complications", depending on the context.
Is it correct to start a sentence with "due to a setback"?
While grammatically permissible, starting a sentence with "due to a setback" can sound awkward. It's often better to rephrase the sentence for clarity and style. Consider using "Because of a setback" or restructuring the sentence so "due to" appears later.
What's the difference between "due to a setback" and "because of a setback"?
While both phrases indicate causation, "because of a setback" is generally considered more versatile and can be used at the beginning of a sentence. "Due to a setback" is often preferred after a verb, but the distinction is subtle and usage often overlaps.
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Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Source & Trust
81%
Authority and reliability
4.1/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested