Owing to means because of, as a result of. It is formal: you will see it in announcements, news and reports, while in conversation people usually say because of. The reason after owing to is expressed with a noun: owing to bad weather.
How would you use owing to?
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owing to + noun; Owing to + noun, + clause; owing to the fact that + clause
- Owing to heavy rain, the outdoor concert was moved to the town hall.
- Several flights were cancelled owing to a strike by air traffic controllers.
- Owing to rising rents, many young people now share flats well into their thirties.
What changed
First versionThe delay was owing to heavy snow on the motorway.
RevisionThe delay was due to heavy snow on the motorway.
Owing to and due to both mean “because of” and look like perfect synonyms. But after was, is or are, English speakers use due to and don't normally use owing to. That is why the corrected sentence has due to after was. At the start of a sentence and after a complete clause, both work: Owing to the snow, the train was late.
Owing to, like due to, can't introduce a full clause. Owing to the traffic was heavy is wrong: you need owing to heavy traffic or because the traffic was heavy. There is also a longer version, owing to the fact that + clause, but in an essay it sounds heavy, and because is simpler.
Your turn
___ a problem with the heating, today's lectures will take place in Building B.
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Owing to — After the gap comes a noun phrase, a problem with the heating, with no verb of its own, so you need Owing to. Because needs a full clause: Because there is a problem with the heating.
Write a formal message to customers about a delayed delivery or a rescheduled meeting. Give the reason with owing to and state the new date.
Owing to a technical problem at our warehouse, your order will be delivered on 14 October instead of 10 October.
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