dues to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "due to" is correct and is commonly used in written English. It is used as an adjective that means "attributable to" or "caused by". Example: The failure of the experiment was due to a lack of research.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

There are no dues to pay.

The New York Times

"She's paid her dues, to say the least.

The New York Times

Mr Zuma is paying his dues to it.

The Economist

"You have paid your dues to the powers of darkness".

The New Yorker

One would stop paying dues to the United Nations.

The New York Times

He, too, has paid his dues to the sport.

The Guardian - Sport

The association has lowered its dues to stem the exodus.

The New York Times

Like farmers, managers will need to pay their dues to the state.

The Economist

This much is standard: the CBI has members to recruit and dues to collect.

The Economist

"There was a protocol, an understanding there were dues to be paid first".

The New York Times

Instead, she owed $560 in dues to the Parkview Heights Homeowners Association.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "dues to", ensure it directly follows the noun it modifies. For example: "The delay was dues to unforeseen circumstances."

Common error

Avoid using "dues to" to start a sentence or a clause. It's better to rephrase to use "because of" or another causal connector at the beginning.

Linguistic Context

"Dues to" functions as a causal connector, indicating the reason or cause for something. As Ludwig AI suggests, it's used to show attribution. For instance, "The failure of the experiment was dues to a lack of research."

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

37%

Science

26%

Encyclopedias

7%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "dues to" functions as a causal connector, indicating the cause or reason for something. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage across diverse contexts. While generally neutral in register, alternative phrases like "owing to" or "by reason of" can introduce a more formal tone. Common contexts include News & Media and scientific writing. Remember to position the phrase correctly after the noun it modifies to maintain clarity. Avoid starting sentences with it; instead, opt for alternatives such as ""because of"" for better readability.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

because of

A common and direct way to express causation.

attributable to

Replaces the entire phrase with a single adjective indicating cause.

owing to

Similar in meaning, but potentially more formal.

on account of

A slightly more formal alternative to "because of".

resulting from

Emphasizes the consequence or outcome of a cause.

as a result of

Similar to "resulting from", but emphasizes the outcome.

as a consequence of

Highlights the causal relationship between events.

in light of

Suggests that something is done or considered because of new information.

by reason of

A formal and less common way to say because of.

thanks to

Implies a positive outcome resulting from something.

FAQs

How can I use "dues to" in a sentence?

The phrase "dues to" is used to indicate the cause of something. For example: "The game was canceled "because of" the rain", can be expressed as, "The game cancellation was dues to the rain".

What can I say instead of "dues to"?

You can use alternatives like ""because of"", "owing to", or "attributable to" depending on the context.

Is it correct to start a sentence with "dues to"?

While technically not incorrect, starting a sentence with "dues to" is generally discouraged. It's often better to rephrase the sentence using ""because of"" or another causal connector at the beginning for clarity.

What's the difference between "dues to" and "due to"?

"Dues" (plural of due) refers to membership fees or obligations, while "due to" means caused by or attributable to. It is important not to confuse them in writing.