owing mainly to

USAGE SUMMARY

"owing mainly to" is a correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It is typically used to show the cause or reason for something. Example: The company's success was owing mainly to their innovative marketing strategies.

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Virtually none do so today, owing mainly to pressure from donors opposed to abortion.

The New Yorker

Public education is better, owing mainly to the Mayor's takeover of the system.

The New Yorker

"And London is in some ways better," owing mainly to the presence of musicians from exotic parts of the world.

The New Yorker

Again, Iran was excluded, owing mainly to pressure from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, the two Sunni sheikhdoms that deeply distrust Iran's Shiite theocracy.

The New Yorker

The city's growth rate is higher than that of the country as a whole, owing mainly to steady migration from rural areas.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Exports were down by 26.5% in the first half of the year, owing mainly to the fall in high tech and in the diamond trade.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The original "scissors crisis" was a short-lived phenomenon, owing mainly to the government's setting prices of agricultural goods too low, and it disappeared when this was remedied.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Other aspects of Chinese civilization were also introduced, owing mainly to the efforts of Crown Prince Shōtoku, whom Umako appointed regent for Suiko.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The consumer price index, a measure of inflation, rose 3.1percentt last year, owing mainly to energy price increases, but the report foresees inflation remaining at 2.5percentt for the next two years.

The New York Times

"Financial conditions have improved more than expected, owing mainly to public intervention, and recent data suggest that the rate of decline in economic activity is moderating, although to varying degrees among regions," the monetary fund said.

The New York Times

While the UK's own production of coal fell by 27% from January to March, owing mainly to controversial colliery closures, the amount of coal imported from Russia rose by 21%.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Place "owing mainly to" close to the effect or outcome it explains, maintaining clarity and logical flow within your sentence.

Common error

Avoid using "owing mainly to" when the described effect has multiple significant causes. Instead, acknowledge multiple factors or use a more nuanced phrase like "partly due to" or "contributed to by".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "owing mainly to" functions as a causal connector, introducing the primary reason or cause for a particular situation or outcome. According to Ludwig, this phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used. It's used to explain why something happened or what caused it.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

44%

News & Media

27%

Encyclopedias

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

5%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "owing mainly to" is a grammatically sound and frequently used causal connector that emphasizes the primary reason behind a particular outcome. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and common usage. Its register is generally neutral to formal, making it suitable for a wide range of contexts, particularly in academic, scientific, and news-related content. When using this phrase, it's important to ensure that the identified cause is indeed the most significant factor and to avoid overstating causality when multiple factors are at play. Consider alternatives like "primarily because of" or "largely due to" for nuanced expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

primarily because of

Replaces "owing" with "because" and "mainly" with "primarily", resulting in a more direct causal statement.

largely due to

Substitutes "owing mainly" with "largely due", offering a slightly more formal tone.

mostly as a result of

Replaces "owing" with "as a result", emphasizing the consequence of a particular cause.

principally attributed to

Provides a more formal and academic tone, suitable for scholarly writing.

chiefly caused by

Focuses directly on the cause, using "caused by" instead of "owing to".

primarily a consequence of

Emphasizes the result or outcome, making it suitable when the consequence is the main focus.

in great measure because of

Uses a more elaborate and emphatic expression to convey the significance of the reason.

for the most part due to

Introduces a nuance suggesting the reason is generally true, but perhaps not universally.

mainly on account of

Replaces "owing" with "on account", providing a slightly different phrasing while retaining the same meaning.

predominantly influenced by

Shifts focus to the influencing factor, suitable when discussing influences rather than direct causes.

FAQs

How can I use "owing mainly to" in a sentence?

Use "owing mainly to" to indicate the primary cause or reason for a particular outcome or situation. For example, "The project's delay was owing mainly to unforeseen technical difficulties."

What phrases are similar to "owing mainly to"?

You can use alternatives like "primarily because of", "largely due to", or "mostly as a result of" depending on the specific context.

Is "owing mainly to" formal or informal?

"Owing mainly to" is generally considered a neutral to slightly formal phrase, suitable for academic, professional, and news contexts. More informal alternatives exist for casual conversation.

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

"Owing mainly to" emphasizes the primary or most significant cause, whereas "due to" simply indicates a cause without necessarily implying it's the most important one.