due to an inability

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "due to an inability" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to explain a reason or cause related to a lack of capability or capacity to do something. Example: "The project was delayed due to an inability to secure the necessary funding."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

That Clegg had always planned it thus, due to an inability to work with Gordon Brown.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Neonatal units found it difficult to release nurses from their frontline duties due to an inability to fill these posts while they were away.

The Guardian

But perhaps the most fundamental problem was despair with life, due to an inability to cope with civvy street, where they often felt abandoned and misunderstood.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Finally, potentially effective drugs frequently fail in clinical trials due to an inability to identify small patient populations in which these drugs would work.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Outcome: To reduce the occurrence of outpatient related respiratory mortality due to an inability to determine the potential for respiratory failure.

University of California, Berkeley

Treatment of neuroepithelial cancers remains a daunting clinical challenge, particularly due to an inability to address rampant invasion deep into eloquent regions of the brain.

Nature

The delay, and increasing ire among all parties, is due to an inability to agree what the new make-up of congress should look like.

The Guardian - Sport

Even if resection is possible, recurrence is common, due to an inability to completely resect invasive fronts penetrating beyond the primary tumor core5,6.

Nature

The lack of the protein resulted in enhanced caspase-3 mediated apoptosis, which is probably due to an inability to activate nuclear factor-κB.

International Journal of Mycobacteriology

The credibility and consequent sustainability of the biomedical research "ecosystem" is in jeopardy, in part due to an inability to reproduce data from the peer-reviewed literature.

Biochemical Pharmacology

As expected, lesioned animals obtained less reward overall due to an inability to flexibly adapt their behaviours after a change in reward location.

Behavioural Brain Research

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "due to an inability", ensure the sentence clearly specifies what the inability pertains to. For example, "The project failed due to an inability to secure funding" provides a clear and specific reason.

Common error

Avoid using "due to an inability" without clearly stating whose inability is being referenced. For instance, instead of "Progress stalled due to an inability", specify "Progress stalled due to the team's inability to access the necessary resources".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "due to an inability" functions as an adverbial phrase or a causal connector. It provides an explanation for a particular outcome or situation. It describes why something occurred, pointing to a lack of capacity or skill as the underlying cause. According to Ludwig, this is a valid and frequently used expression.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

31%

News & Media

29%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

8%

Academia

7%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "due to an inability" is a grammatically correct and very common phrase used to explain the cause of a situation stemming from a lack of capability. As Ludwig AI indicates, it is widely accepted across various sources. While suitable for formal, scientific, and news contexts, writers should specify whose inability is referenced to avoid vagueness. Alternatives such as "owing to a lack of" or "attributable to a deficiency in" offer more formal options. Therefore, understanding these nuances ensures accurate and effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

because of a lack of capacity

Replaces "inability" with "lack of capacity", emphasizing the absence of sufficient capacity.

owing to a deficiency in skill

Substitutes "inability" with "deficiency in skill", highlighting a lack of expertise.

as a consequence of not being able to

Rephrases the cause with a more verbose construction, focusing on the result of lacking the power or skill to do something.

resulting from a failure to

Emphasizes the failure aspect instead of the inability, pointing to a missed opportunity or unsuccessful attempt.

attributable to a deficit in competence

Replaces "inability" with "deficit in competence", indicating a lack of the necessary ability or skill.

stemming from a want of talent

Uses "want of talent" instead of "inability", referring to a deficiency in natural aptitude.

because of a restricted potential

Replaces "inability" with "restricted potential", stressing limited possibilities.

deriving from a shortcoming in aptitude

Similar to "want of talent" and "deficiency in skill" but with more emphasis on the source or root cause.

on account of a limitation in faculty

Uses more formal vocabulary to convey the idea of a restriction in ability or skill.

given an incapability

A more concise way of stating the same idea, but it is slightly less common.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "due to an inability" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, you could use alternatives like "owing to a lack of" or "attributable to a deficiency in". These options often suit academic or professional writing.

Is it grammatically correct to say "due to an inability"?

Yes, "due to an inability" is grammatically correct. It functions as an adverbial phrase, explaining the reason or cause of something. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is a valid and usable expression.

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

While both phrases express causation, "due to an inability" is often considered slightly more formal than "because of an inability". The choice often depends on the context and desired tone.

What are some common situations where "due to an inability" might be used?

"Due to an inability" is commonly used to explain failures, delays, or shortcomings. For example, "The project was delayed due to an inability to secure funding", or "The experiment failed due to an inability to control the variables".