was because of

USAGE SUMMARY

"was because of" is a correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It is used to explain the reason or cause for something. You can use it anytime you want to provide an explanation for an event, action, or situation. Example: She was late for the meeting, and it was because of heavy traffic on the highway.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

It was because of Biden.

The New Yorker

And it was because of Dean".

The New Yorker

It was because of the time.

The New Yorker

"It was because of the public humiliation.

Independent

This was because of their fanaticism".

The New Yorker

It was because of their skills".

Independent

It was because of that horrific experience.

The New York Times - Sports

It was because of my belly.

The New Yorker

It was because of childcare.

The New Yorker

This was because of RSI problems.

The Guardian - Books

Partly it was because of politics.

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "was because of" to clearly establish a causal link between an event and its reason. Ensure the sentence structure is clear to avoid ambiguity. For example, "The delay was because of the weather" is clearer than "Because of the weather, there was a delay."

Common error

Avoid using "was because of" in overly complex sentences where the causal relationship becomes unclear. Simplify the sentence or rephrase using a more direct construction to maintain clarity. For example, instead of "The project's failure, which involved several missteps, was because of a lack of initial planning", try "The project failed because of a lack of initial planning."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was because of" functions as a causal connector, establishing a direct relationship between a result and its cause. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread use, serving to explain the reason behind an event or situation.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

58%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

17%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "was because of" serves as a clear and effective way to express causation, as verified by Ludwig AI. It is grammatically sound and widely used across various contexts, particularly in news, business, and scientific writing. While alternatives such as "was due to" or "resulted from" exist, "was because of" offers a straightforward means of explaining the reasons behind events or situations. Pay attention to sentence structure to ensure clarity, and avoid overuse in overly complex sentences.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was caused by

Directly states the agent or factor that brought about a particular event or condition.

was due to

Indicates a direct cause-and-effect relationship, often used in more formal contexts.

was a consequence of

States the outcome as a direct result, often implying a logical or predictable connection.

resulted from

Emphasizes the outcome as a direct consequence of a preceding action or event.

was attributed to

Assigns a cause or reason to something, often based on observation or evidence.

stemmed from

Focuses on the origin or source as the cause, implying a gradual development from that source.

arose from

Suggests that something emerged or came into existence as a result of specific circumstances.

originated from

Highlights the initial point or beginning from which something started or was created.

because it was

Inverts the structure, focusing on the reason before stating the effect.

was thanks to

Expresses gratitude or acknowledges a positive influence as the reason for something.

FAQs

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

"Was because of" is used to explain the reason for something. For example, "The game was canceled because of the rain."

What's a formal alternative to "was because of"?

In formal writing, you could use alternatives like "was due to" or "resulted from" to convey a similar meaning.

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

Yes, using "was because of" is grammatically correct. Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase is appropriate.

What's the difference between "was due to" and "was because of"?

While both phrases indicate causation, "was due to" often implies a more direct or attributable cause, whereas "was because of" can be slightly broader. However, they are often interchangeable.