virtually due to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "virtually due to" is not standard in written English and may cause confusion.
It could be used when attempting to express that something is almost or nearly caused by something else, but it is better to use clearer alternatives. Example: "The project's success was virtually due to the team's hard work and dedication."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Members meet based on their needs, with some joining meetings virtually due to their remote location.

Asian-Pacific Journal of Second and Foreign Language Education

As COD in the binary solution was virtually due to the presence of phenol and 4-CP, the process variables influenced the COD adsorption manifested the intermediary interaction characteristics of these phenolic compounds.

Applied Water Science

It is important to note that the change in the estimated risk of AMI during drug use when using more specific criteria is virtually due to the exclusion of AMI cases identified by free-text search: with AMI50, cases identified by free text in IPCI were excluded while with AMI75 all cases identified by free text in IPCI and HSD were excluded.

BMJ Open

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

It's an allegorical fantasy about, again, a future where Earth has become virtually uninhabitable due to mankind's reckless ways.

Huffington Post

"The flow of asylum-seeker vessels into Australia has virtually ceased due to the turnback policy.

The Guardian

In the United States at least, civil liability would be virtually impossible due to the immunity granted by law to the military and its contractors and the evidentiary obstacles to products liability suits".

The Guardian

Calculations of metastable phase equilibria in these alloys are virtually nonexistent due to the lack of quantitative information on the thermodynamics of the precipitate phases.

Acta Materialia

Groundwater is the only source of water in Yucatan, since surface water is virtually absent due to the karstic nature of the soil.

Journal of Contaminant Hydrology

The optical gap of the BN tubule is virtually closed due to the effect of one Sb atom impurity per translational unit cell, in contrast to the weak indium-induced perturbation of the band structure of the BN nanotube.

Journal of Physics and Chemistry of Solids

It is also shown that for some combinations of cylinder array geometry and mass-damping parameter the theoretical stability boundary of a single flexible cylinder surrounded by rigid cylinders is sensibly the same as that for a full array of flexible cylinders, the instability mechanism for these cases being virtually entirely due to negative fluid damping.

Journal of Sound and Vibration

Robust, Europe, and Prudent were virtually unmanageable due to damage to their sails and rigging.

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When expressing causality, prefer clear and direct phrases such as "because of", "as a result of", or "due to". Avoid using "virtually due to" as it can sound awkward and less precise.

Common error

Avoid using "virtually due to" in an attempt to sound more sophisticated. Directness often improves clarity. Instead of saying "The delay was virtually due to the weather", say "The delay was due to the weather" or "The weather caused the delay".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "virtually due to" functions as a causal connector, attempting to link an outcome with its cause. However, it introduces a degree of approximation, suggesting that the cause is not entirely responsible for the effect. As Ludwig indicates, the phrase is questionable and suggests better alternatives.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

67%

News & Media

22%

Wiki

11%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "virtually due to" attempts to express a near or approximate causal relationship. However, according to Ludwig, its usage is not standard and is best avoided in favor of clearer alternatives such as "almost because of" or "nearly as a result of". While found in diverse sources, including science and news, its infrequent occurrence and grammatical awkwardness make it a less desirable choice for precise and effective communication. It's better to opt for more direct and unambiguous causal expressions to ensure clarity in writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

virtually caused by

Slightly rewords to emphasize a near-direct cause without needing "due to".

almost because of

Replaces "virtually" with "almost" for clearer expression of near causation.

nearly as a result of

Substitutes "virtually" with "nearly" and uses "as a result of" for a more formal causal link.

practically caused by

Emphasizes the practical effect of the cause, implying it's nearly a direct cause.

effectively attributed to

Formally attributes the effect, suggesting it's seen as caused by something.

tantamount to being caused by

Implies the effect is almost identical to being directly caused.

in effect due to

Uses "in effect" to soften the direct causal claim, indicating influence.

for all intents and purposes, caused by

Highlights that for practical considerations, the effect is caused by the specified factor.

in essence, because of

Highlights a fundamental causal relationship, framing it as an essential cause.

functionally caused by

Focuses on the functional relationship, implying the effect is nearly functionally caused.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "virtually due to" for better clarity?

Consider using alternatives such as "almost because of", "nearly as a result of", or simply "because of", depending on the intended nuance.

Is "virtually due to" grammatically correct?

While understandable, "virtually due to" is not considered standard English. It's better to use clearer and more direct causal phrases.

What does "virtually due to" imply?

It suggests something is almost entirely caused by something else, but not quite. It's often used when the causation isn't direct or fully complete.

Are there situations where "virtually due to" is appropriate?

In most cases, no. More precise phrasing is preferable. For example, instead of "The failure was virtually due to lack of funding," you could say "The failure was largely due to lack of funding" or "Lack of funding nearly caused the failure".