owing to something

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "owing to something" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate a reason or cause for something. Example: "The event was canceled owing to inclement weather."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Deford was as excited as I ever saw him, owing to something new.

The New Yorker

Berg and Jerome find a tranche of them hidden behind a wardrobe at the house of Mr Lewanski - who, it seems, isn't in a coma as a result of the attack 35 years before, but owing to something more recent.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Is there something we owed to this place?

University of California, Berkeley

(His condition, in its indolence so extreme as to verge on the comedic, would appear to owe something to Beckett).

The Guardian - Books

Theatrical fashion owes something to accident and something to design.

The Guardian

One of the instructors, Dave Hazard, later noted in his autobiography that her dance moves seemed to owe something to karate.

Wikipedia

Spomenik #1, its eagle-like wings ready to soar, owes something to the symbolism of Picasso.

The Guardian - Arts

For breast cancer, the addition of radiotherapy to surgery owed something to redefinitions of the surgically acceptable.

Bulletin of the History of Medicine

He owes something to them, and they owe something to him.

Science Magazine

Of course, IBM's enthusiasm may owe something to a desire to pay Microsoft back for its many slights.

The Economist

Libya's return to respectability may have owed something to sanctions.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "owing to something" in formal writing to clearly indicate a cause-and-effect relationship. It can add a level of sophistication to your explanations, particularly when addressing complex or nuanced situations.

Common error

Avoid using "owing to something" in casual conversations or informal writing. Simpler alternatives like "because of" or "due to" are more appropriate for everyday communication.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "owing to something" functions as a prepositional phrase acting as an adverbial modifier. It indicates the reason or cause for an action or state. Ludwig AI indicates its correctness and usability in writing. Example: "Deford was as excited as I ever saw him, "owing to something" new."

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Academia

25%

Science

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "owing to something" is a formal phrase used to express causation or reason. Ludwig AI indicates that this phrase is grammatically correct and can add sophistication to writing but is more suitable for formal contexts than casual conversation. While its usage may be limited based on available examples, the phrase maintains clarity and provides a professional tone when explaining cause-and-effect relationships. Be mindful of audience and purpose when choosing between "owing to something" and simpler alternatives.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

due to something

Uses a more common prepositional phrase to indicate causation.

because of something

Employs a conjunction phrase to express the reason or cause.

as a result of something

Highlights the consequence of a specific action or event.

in light of something

Indicates consideration of specific circumstances or information.

on account of something

Provides a formal alternative to express the reason for something.

attributable to something

Emphasizes the cause as being directly linked or assigned to something.

resulting from something

Focuses on the outcome or effect caused by a particular factor.

stemming from something

Implies an origin or source from which something originates.

consequent to something

Highlights the sequential relationship of events where one follows the other.

in consequence of something

Formally specifies that something is a direct effect or outcome.

FAQs

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

Use "owing to something" to introduce the reason or cause for a particular situation or event. For example: "The game was postponed "owing to the rain"".

What are some alternatives to "owing to something"?

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

Is "owing to something" more formal than "due to something"?

Yes, "owing to something" is generally considered more formal than "due to something". Choose the phrase that best suits the tone and audience of your writing.

Can I use "owing to something" at the beginning of a sentence?

While it's grammatically correct, starting a sentence with "owing to something" can sometimes sound awkward. Consider rephrasing the sentence for better flow. For example, instead of "Owing to the heavy traffic, we were late", try "We were late "because of the heavy traffic"".