Due to means because of or caused by. It sounds a little more formal than because of and often appears in notices, reports and business emails. After due to, the reason is a noun or a noun phrase.
How would you use due to?
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due to + noun; be due to + noun (= be caused by); due to the fact that + clause
- The flight was delayed due to strong winds over the Alps.
- Due to staff shortages, the library will close at six this week.
- Most of our extra costs were due to rising energy prices.
What changed
First versionThe lesson was cancelled due to the teacher was ill.
RevisionThe lesson was cancelled because the teacher was ill.
Due to is close in meaning to because, so it's easy to put a whole clause after it: due to the teacher was ill. But due to is followed by a noun (due to illness). When a whole clause follows, like the teacher was ill, you need because.
Be due to + verb means something quite different: to be expected or planned. The train is due to arrive at six is about the timetable, not a reason. Compare: The delay was due to snow, meaning snow caused the delay.
Your turn
Our train arrived two hours late ___ a signal failure near Leeds.
Show the answer
due to — The gap is followed by a signal failure, a noun with no verb, so due to fits. Because would need a whole clause: because there was a signal failure.
Write a short notice for colleagues or classmates saying what is changing and why. Give the reason with due to.
Due to repairs on the second floor, Thursday's seminar will take place in Room 12.
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