owing

USAGE SUMMARY

"owing" is a correct and usable word in written English.
It is often used to describe something that is owed or due, usually as part of a phrase or expression. For example, you may say "We are still owing on the car loan," or "Sales are down owing to the pandemic."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Any comment declaring how you cast your vote will be removed by moderators owing to restrictions on polls and reporting, set out in article 66A of the Representation of the People Act 1983.

The Guardian - Opinion

Relationships with Iraqis were much more distant, and Americans much more isolated, owing to security restrictions and other factors.

The Economist

When it burst he was left owing Anglo – and hence the Irish taxpayer – billions.

The Guardian

There were also holdups owing to signalling problems between Bedford and Bletchley and between Selhurst, Norwood Junction and West Croydon in south London.

The Guardian - Business

I have never gone overdrawn, missed a loan payment or failed to pay the full amount owing every month on my NatWest Gold credit card.

The Guardian - Money

The AP asked Roizman how he received additional money from New Jersey despite owing the state so much money.

The Guardian

Now obviously we're a little early with this preview, as owing to the ongoing pressure to comply with the FIFA calendar, the final week of the 2013 MLS regular season is scheduled to be played at half-time in the 3rd/4th place game at the Qatar World Cup (though the playoffs will go ahead as planned).

The Guardian - Sport

Turkish and Northern Cypriot firms appear to be the main profit engines within the group October 1990: Polly Peck collapses owing £550m.

The Guardian - Business

"However, under that act, the minister for finance has the power to approve a waiver of debt of an amount owing to the commonwealth which totally extinguishes that debt.

The Guardian

Packer and Murdoch lost a combined $1bn in the 2001 collapse, which came with the company owing $350m.

The Guardian - Business

Last June, Westlife singer Shane Filan became the highest-profile Irish person to follow the trend when he was declared bankrupt in Kingston county court in Surrey, a week after his Irish-based property development company went into receivership owing €5.5m to Ulster Bank and Bank of Ireland.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "owing" to add a touch of formality to your writing when explaining cause and effect. It's particularly effective in formal reports or academic papers.

Common error

Avoid using "due to" when "owing to" is more appropriate. "Due to" should follow a form of the verb "to be", while "owing to" can directly precede a noun or noun phrase.

Linguistic Context

Owing" functions as a prepositional phrase introducing a cause or reason. It explains why something is the way it is. Ludwig AI's analysis and numerous examples confirm its role in establishing causal relationships.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Formal & Business

18%

Science

16%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "owing" is a versatile phrase used to express causality, similar to "due to" or "because of". Ludwig AI confirms that it's grammatically sound and commonly used, particularly in formal and semi-formal contexts. While "owing" appears frequently in news and media, its use extends to business and academic writing. When writing, remember that "owing" is appropriate when you want to explain the reason behind something, and be careful not to misuse "due to" in its place. Mastering the nuances of "owing" can elevate your writing, making it more precise and sophisticated.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

due to

Replaces "owing" with a more common phrase indicating cause or reason.

because of

Offers a simpler and widely understood alternative to express causality.

on account of

Provides a slightly more formal synonym for "owing" indicating a reason.

as a result of

Emphasizes the consequence or outcome of a particular cause.

in light of

Suggests that something is happening because of new information or circumstances.

attributable to

Indicates that something can be assigned or credited to a specific cause.

by virtue of

Implies that something is happening because of a specific quality or power.

considering

Focuses on taking something into account when explaining a situation.

in view of

Highlights that something is being considered or taken into account.

resulting from

Directly states that something is a consequence of a particular action or event.

FAQs

How can I use "owing" in a sentence?

You can use "owing" to indicate a cause or reason, as in "The delay was "owing to" bad weather" or "The company's success is "owing to" its innovative products".

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

"Due to" should only be used when it can replace "caused by" after a form of the verb "to be". Use ""owing to"" in other cases to express cause or reason.

What can I say instead of "owing to"?

You can use alternatives like "because of", "due to" (when grammatically correct), or "on account of" depending on the context.

Is "owing to" formal or informal?

"Owing to" is generally considered more formal than alternatives like "because of". It is suitable for academic, professional, and formal writing.