sometimes because of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "sometimes because of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that an action or situation occurs occasionally due to a specific reason or cause. Example: "Sometimes because of the weather, our outdoor events are postponed."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

(And sometimes: because of all of the above).

The New York Times

It's hard to keep him out sometimes because of that.

The New York Times - Sports

"Doors do eventually close — sometimes because of things you did, sometimes because of things you didn't do," Robin Marantz Henig notes.

The New Yorker

"Doors do eventually close sometimes because of things you did, sometimes because of things you didn't do," Robin Marantz Henig notes.

The New Yorker

The Olympic downhill has a long history of weather-related postponements, sometimes because of too much snow and sometimes because of too little.

The New York Times - Sports

Then, you know, I lose my concentration, you know, sometimes because of that".

The New York Times

"We speak from our experiences, and sometimes because of our experiences we interpret things differently".

The New York Times

This is sometimes because of poor skills, but frustration likely plays a significant role.

The New York Times

When I was younger I think I didn't get picked sometimes because of it.

Independent

Berg is infatuated with heroes, military, sports and, sometimes, because of his teenage years, misfits.

The New York Times - Magazine

Sometimes it's because of the physical stress on their bodies, sometimes because of performance anxiety.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "sometimes because of", ensure that the sentence clearly indicates what happens at other times or due to other reasons. This provides a more complete picture and avoids implying that the stated reason is the only possible cause.

Common error

Avoid using "sometimes because of" when the reason is actually the primary or most frequent cause. It's more accurate to use "often because of" or "mainly because of" in such cases to reflect the true frequency.

Linguistic Context

"Sometimes because of" functions as an adverbial phrase that introduces a causal explanation. It qualifies the main statement by indicating that the stated reason is one of several possible factors, rather than the sole cause. Ludwig AI confirms this is a grammatically sound phrase.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

58%

Science

27%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "sometimes because of" is a grammatically correct and frequently used phrase that functions as a causal connector. As Ludwig AI explains, it's used to indicate that a particular reason is one of several possible factors contributing to a situation. This phrase appears most commonly in News & Media and Scientific contexts, maintaining a neutral to formal register. When using this phrase, ensure the sentence clarifies the primary reason and prevents overgeneralization. Alternatives like "occasionally due to" or "at times resulting from" offer similar meanings with subtle differences in formality and emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

occasionally due to

Replaces "sometimes" with "occasionally", emphasizing the infrequency of the cause.

at times resulting from

Uses "at times" instead of "sometimes" and "resulting from" instead of "because of", making the phrase slightly more formal.

partly as a consequence of

Indicates that the described effect happens only "partly" and uses a more formal alternative to "because of".

in some instances owing to

A more formal and less common way of saying "sometimes because of".

sporadically caused by

Replaces "sometimes" with "sporadically" and "because of" with "caused by", highlighting the irregular nature of the cause.

intermittently due to the effects of

Suggests that the causality is not constant but intermittent.

on occasion stemming from

Similar to "sometimes because of" but uses "on occasion" and "stemming from" for a more varied expression.

now and then arising from

Uses a less formal expression, suggesting an irregular sequence.

periodically a result of

Focuses on the periodic nature of the outcome or result.

certain times attributed to

Indicates that the instances are not frequent and uses a passive voice.

FAQs

How can I use "sometimes because of" in a sentence?

Use "sometimes because of" to indicate that a situation occasionally arises due to a specific reason. For example, "The game is delayed sometimes because of rain."

What are some alternatives to "sometimes because of"?

You can use alternatives like "occasionally due to", "at times resulting from", or "partly as a consequence of" depending on the context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "sometimes because of"?

Yes, "sometimes because of" is grammatically correct and commonly used in English to express that a certain outcome happens occasionally due to a specific reason.

What's the difference between "sometimes because of" and "always because of"?

"Sometimes because of" indicates that something happens occasionally for a stated reason, while "always because of" suggests that the reason is the sole cause in every instance. The former implies other causes might also be at play.