Due to or because? Two ways to give a reason
When Air India announced that it would cancel 22% of its domestic flights for June and July, the coverage was full of reasons, soaring jet-fuel prices, a conflict near the Strait of Hormuz, and costs the carriers simply could not absorb. In English, the words you choose to introduce a reason depend on what comes next.
Because introduces a full clause (a subject and a verb). Because of and due to introduce a noun phrase, which has no verb of its own. The meaning is the same; the grammar is not.
The difference in one line
because + clause
Several routes became unviable because fuel prices had soared.
because of / due to + noun
Several routes became unviable because of soaring fuel prices.
A common trap
Watch the words after the linker, not the meaning. If you can see a subject and a verb, use because; if you only have a noun (often with adjectives stacked in front), use because of or the slightly more formal due to. At the start of a sentence, Owing to and Due to sound the most formal of all: Owing to the partial closure of the strait, fuel prices climbed across Asia.
Try these
Fill each gap with because or because of / due to. The words straight after the gap tell you which one fits.
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Air India trimmed its June schedule ______ the sharp rise in jet-fuel prices.
A noun phrase follows.
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Several domestic routes became unviable ______ fuel now accounts for about 40% of operating costs.
A clause follows.
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______ the partial closure of the Strait of Hormuz, prices climbed right across Asia.
A noun phrase at the start of the sentence.
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Ryanair lost an extra $50 million in April ______ the conflict had pushed costs higher.
A clause follows.
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Passengers were rebooked or refunded ______ the cancelled sectors.
A noun phrase follows.
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Several carriers applied for fuel surcharges ______ they cannot absorb the higher prices indefinitely.
A clause follows.
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The DGCA has delayed its ruling ______ the unusual volatility in the market.
A noun phrase follows.
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IndiGo also trimmed capacity ______ demand on some sectors had fallen.
A clause follows.
CEFR Level B2 / ICAO Level 5
For more reason-and-result language in context, see how carriers explained their decision to cut transatlantic services because of a sharp slump in demand.
