owing to the

USAGE SUMMARY

"owing to the" is correct and usable in written English.
It is a subordinating conjunction used to introduce a clause that states a reason for the preceding statement. Example: Owing to the storm, the power went out.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Turnout was low, owing to the snow.

The Economist

"This is owing to the influence of Wittgenstein.

The New Yorker

This is, of course, owing to the rise of academies.

The Guardian

It cost sixty dollars owing to the extreme hassle.

The New Yorker

The name stuck, owing to the grandfather's strict disposition.

The New York Times

This should be owing to the orthogonal configuration of BiNAPO.

Organic Electronics

This bottleneck is getting worse day by day owing to the ever-increasing data needs.

Stanford University

And much of this was owing to the rise of China.

Cornell University

But it was not, in fact, owing to the strength of my will power alone.

The New Yorker

They had no common "ethnic" lineage owing to the high level of conversion in antiquity.

The Guardian - Books

This was "owing to the Law for the Restoration of the Professional Civil Service".

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In formal writing, prefer "owing to the" over more casual connectors like "thanks to the" unless a sense of gratitude is intended.

Common error

Writers often struggle with the prescriptive rule that "owing to the" is an adverbial prepositional phrase, while "due to the" is adjectival. While this distinction is fading in modern English, avoid using "owing to the" immediately following a linking verb (e.g. "The delay was owing to the rain") in extremely conservative academic contexts; use "due to the" there instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "owing to the" functions as a complex preposition that introduces an adverbial clause of reason. It establishes a clear causal link between a specific condition and its resulting state or action. In the data provided by Ludwig, it serves as a robust connective tissue in complex sentences.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

30%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

6%

Social Media

3%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "owing to the" is a highly versatile and correct causal connector that adds a layer of professionalism to any text. According to Ludwig, it is a staple of top-tier publications like The Economist and The New Yorker, appearing frequently in both scientific research and international news. While it is synonymous with "due to the", it often carries a slightly more sophisticated tone and is particularly useful for starting sentences. Whether you are explaining a scientific result or a business delay, using "owing to the" ensures your causal logic is presented with clarity and authority.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

due to the

Interchangeable in most modern contexts though traditionally reserved for adjectival use following a linking verb.

because of the

Slightly less formal and more common in spoken English while maintaining identical meaning.

on account of the

Carries a slightly more explanatory or administrative tone, often used in reports.

as a result of the

Emphasizes the consequence or outcome stemming from the cause.

given the

Introduces a condition or reason as a baseline fact for the following statement.

in view of the

Focuses on the reason as a factor taken into consideration.

thanks to the

Usually implies a positive cause but is occasionally used ironically for negative reasons.

considering the

Acts as a causal indicator by highlighting a specific circumstance.

by virtue of the

Much more formal, implying the reason is a specific quality or power.

consequent to the

Highly formal and technical, often used in scientific or legal documentation.

FAQs

Is it correct to use "owing to the"?

Yes, "owing to the" is entirely correct and widely used in professional writing to denote cause. According to Ludwig AI, it is particularly prevalent in high-quality sources like The Economist and The Guardian.

What is the difference between "owing to the" and "due to the"?

In modern usage they are often interchangeable. Traditionally, "due to the" was used as an adjective modifying a noun (The cancellation was due to the snow), while "owing to the" was an adverb modifying a verb (The game was cancelled owing to the snow).

Can I start a sentence with "owing to the"?

Absolutely. Starting a sentence with "owing to the" is a standard and effective way to provide context for the main clause. For example: "Owing to the storm, the flight was delayed."

What can I say instead of "owing to the"?

Depending on the formality, you can use "because of the", "on account of the", or "given the".