owes to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "owes to" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is usually used as a more formal way of saying "thanks to" or "due to". For example: The success of the project owes to the hard work of the team members.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Partly, this gap owes to stylistic choices.

The New York Times - Arts

How much this owes to the intervention strategy is debatable.

The Economist

The Republic owes to the good its protection.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Some of that owes to Ms. Wood's almost otherworldly voice.

The New York Times

The score's integrity owes to its homemade iconoclasm.

The New York Times

It is hard to say how much it owes to nurture and how much to nature.

The Economist

The increased subsidy bill owes to a spike in international prices of inputs and fertilizer prices.

The New York Times

Surely some of it owes to the city's halting recovery from Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

The Economist

It is about what this country owes to those who risk their lives to serve it.

Independent

Consequently, the large unexpected drop in unemployment owes to very strong hiring and few layoffs".

The New York Times

None, however, is loaded with the emotional charge that the picture owes to its dramatic history.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "owes to", ensure that the sentence clearly identifies both the thing that is owed and the thing to which it is owed, maintaining clarity and avoiding ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "owes to" when there is no direct causal link or obligation. Overusing it can dilute its impact and make your writing sound less precise. Ensure that the relationship you're describing is truly one of dependence or consequence.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "owes to" functions as a causal connector, linking an effect to its cause. It indicates that something is due to or caused by something else. Ludwig examples illustrate its use in attributing success, failure, or specific qualities to particular factors.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Science

37%

Encyclopedias

3%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "owes to" is a versatile causal connector used to attribute effects to their causes. As Ludwig AI explains, it's grammatically correct and frequently appears in various contexts, particularly in news, science, and encyclopedia articles. While relatively formal, "owes to" provides a clear and direct way to explain relationships between events or factors, making it a valuable tool for effective communication. Alternatives like "is caused by" or "results from" offer similar meanings, but "owes to" emphasizes a sense of obligation or direct consequence. When using this phrase, ensure clarity in identifying the elements being linked and avoid overuse for maintaining precision in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is caused by

Directly indicates a causal relationship between two elements.

results from

Focuses on the origin or source from which something arises.

is attributable to

Emphasizes the ability to assign a cause or origin to something.

stems from

Suggests a deeper, more fundamental origin or root cause.

is a product of

Indicates that something is the result or outcome of a particular process or combination of factors.

is a consequence of

Highlights the result or outcome of a preceding event or action.

is credited to

Acknowledges the source or contributor to a particular achievement or quality.

is born of

Implies that something originated or was created from a particular source or condition.

is down to

An informal way of attributing something to a specific cause or factor.

is thanks to

Expresses gratitude for the positive influence or contribution of something.

FAQs

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

Use "owes to" to indicate that something is caused by or is a result of something else. For example, "The project's success "owes to" the team's dedication."

What are some alternatives to "owes to"?

You can use alternatives like "is caused by", "results from", or "is attributable to" to express similar relationships.

Which is correct, "owes to" or "is owed to"?

"Owes to" indicates a causal relationship (A owes to B), while "is owed to" indicates something is due to someone (A is owed to B). Ensure you use the correct phrasing based on the intended meaning.

What's the difference between "owes to" and "depends on"?

"Owes to" implies a more direct causal relationship or obligation, while "depends on" suggests a condition or reliance. For example, "The victory "owes to" hard work" versus "Success "depends on" preparation."