Is it Do to or Due to? Which is correct?(and Why)

Vocabulary / By

“Due to” is correct in English. It has a similar meaning to “because” or “for this reason”.

“Do to” is incorrect in this context. 

Due to(Meaning and Use)

“Due to” functions as an adjective and therefore describes or adds information about nouns. 

Example sentences

  1. The event was cancelled due to heavy rain.
  2. Our flight was delayed due to air traffic control issues.
  3. Many students failed the exam due to lack of preparation.
  4. The construction project fell behind schedule due to supply chain problems.
  5. I was unable to submit my homework on time due to illness.
  6. Oil prices rose sharply due to geopolitical tensions.
  7. Tourism declined in the region due to the economic downturn.
  8. The recipe did not turn out as expected due to a missing ingredient.
  9. Traffic accidents increased due to hazardous road conditions.
  10. We supported the policy change due to compelling evidence.

Why is Due To Correct?

The difference between “due to” and “do to” is that “due to” is the correct grammatical construction, while “do to” is incorrect.

Here are the key points of difference:

  • “Due to” is an adjective phrase meaning “owed or attributable to.” It is used to indicate the cause or reason for something. For example: “The delay was due to bad weather.”
  • “Do to” is not a valid grammatical construction in standard English. It sounds similar to “due to” but does not have the same meaning.
  • “Do” is usually a verb that requires an object, such as “do something.” But “to” is a preposition, not an object. So putting “do” and “to” together does not work grammatically.
  • “Due to” has been the accepted standard phrase for centuries in both British and American English. While “do to” may be used colloquially in some dialects, it is considered incorrect in formal written English.

What can I say instead of due to?

“Because of” has a similar meaning but is used differently. “Because of” is used as an adverb and therefore modifies verbs.

“Caused by” or “as a result of” are possible phrases that you can use instead of “due to”

Is due to formal?

Yes “due to” is quite formal and is usually used in announcements.

Can I start a sentence with due to?

Technically, you are not supposed to start a sentence with “due to” but in reality many people do.

Is due to bad English?

No “due to” is not bad English. “Due to” is perfectly acceptable in Engish.

Do to 

“Do to” is incorrect when used in the context of ” as a result of”.

Many people make this mistake because “due” and “do” sound very similar.

“Do to” can be found in some sentences usually beginning with the question word “what” and when we are looking for a solution.

What can we do to save the planet?

What can we do to help the monkeys?

Conor
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