may be owing to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "may be owing to" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to suggest a possible reason or cause for something, often in a formal or academic context. Example: "The increase in sales may be owing to the recent marketing campaign that targeted a younger audience."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

If he is not quite as well known as his output would seem to warrant, that may be owing to this same penchant for shape-shifting.

The New York Times - Books

The discrepancy may be owing to difficulty in determining the distal limit of the PDC deposits.

Earth, Planets and Space

Moreover, there is some other type of noise, which may be owing to the collection device.

Journal of Petroleum Exploration and Production Technology

This may be owing to the variance in the concentrations of OH− and H+ in the aqueous solutions.

Applied Water Science

These decreases in absorbance at 420 nm may be owing to decomposition of conjugates at higher reaction temperature.

Chemistry Central Journal

If a deviation from Gaussian is detected, it may be owing to particular frequency components in the process.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

This may be owing to completion of monolayer coverage of HA (Röcker et al. 2009) onto ZnO CS surface.

Applied Water Science

Failure of the output control card of the frequency driver may be owing to the overheating of its cabinet inside temperature.

Proceedings of the Twentieth International Cryogenic Engineering Conference (ICEC20)

The fast biosorption of phenol and cyanide at the beginning may be owing to the obtainability of huge number of active vacant surface sites on the CSAC surface.

Applied Water Science

The catalytic activity of AuNPs is may be owing to proficient electron transfer from the BH4- ion to the nitro compound mediated by the nanoparticles.

Nanoscale Research Letters

This may be owing to the high stiffness of the surface of the ox-CNFs in comparison with the silane coatings on the CNF surface.

Nanoscale Res Lett

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "may be owing to" when presenting a reasoned explanation or hypothesis, especially in formal writing. It indicates a considered, but not definitive, causal relationship.

Common error

While "may be owing to" is appropriate for formal contexts, avoid using it excessively in casual writing. Simpler alternatives like "may be because of" or "might be due to" can sound more natural.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "may be owing to" functions as a causal connector, introducing a possible reason or explanation for a situation. Ludwig AI confirms its usability, and the examples demonstrate its use in connecting an effect to a potential cause.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

86%

News & Media

7%

Formal & Business

7%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "may be owing to" is a causal connector used to suggest a possible explanation or reason, predominantly in formal and scientific writing. Ludwig AI indicates its usability and appropriateness for expressing reasoned hypotheses. While grammatically correct and widely used, simpler alternatives may be preferable in less formal contexts. The phrase is frequently found in scientific literature, as illustrated by the examples, where it often links observed effects to potential underlying causes.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is possibly due to

Similar to "may be owing to" but with slightly different wording.

may be attributed to

Changes the wording while maintaining the meaning of a potential cause.

may be a result of

Indicates a consequence or outcome, similar to a cause.

is potentially caused by

Highlights the possibility of a specific cause.

could be because of

More informal phrasing to suggest a possible explanation.

might stem from

Suggests an origin or source of something.

can be ascribed to

Formally attributes something to a specific cause or reason.

can be explained by

Offers a way to account for something based on certain factors.

may arise from

Indicates that something originates or emerges from a particular cause.

might be linked to

Suggests a connection or association, rather than a direct cause.

FAQs

What does "may be owing to" mean?

The phrase "may be owing to" suggests a possible reason or cause for something. It is similar to saying something "may be due to" or "might be caused by".

How can I use "may be owing to" in a sentence?

Use "may be owing to" to introduce a potential explanation. For example, "The project's delay "may be owing to" unforeseen circumstances."

Which is correct: "may be due to" or "may be owing to"?

Both "may be due to" and "may be owing to" are grammatically correct and have similar meanings. The choice between them often depends on the context and desired level of formality. "May be due to" is often considered more common in everyday language.

What are some alternatives to "may be owing to"?

Alternatives include "may be attributed to", "could be because of", or "might stem from". The best alternative depends on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.