How to use "owing to this"

What Does "owing to this" Mean?

• Grammatical function: It expresses a cause-and-effect relationship. It introduces the reason or cause for the situation described in the main clause, functioning as an adverbial phrase of reason.
• Typical sentence position: It's most commonly found at the beginning of a sentence or clause, but can also appear mid-sentence.
• Register: Formal. It's more common in written and academic contexts than in casual conversation.

How to Use It

• Syntactic patterns: "Owing to this" is typically followed by a comma and then the main clause that describes the result or consequence. It refers back to a previously mentioned fact, situation, or event.
• Punctuation rules: A comma almost always follows "owing to this" when it begins a clause. If it appears mid-sentence, it is typically set off by commas (though this is less common).
• Grammatical flexibility: It can start a sentence or a clause within a sentence. It cannot be directly negated (you wouldn't say "not owing to this"). While it can be moved, doing so can sometimes sound awkward.
• What sounds unnatural or incorrect: Using "owing to this" to introduce a completely new idea without prior context sounds unnatural. Avoid using it in very informal or conversational settings where simpler alternatives would be more appropriate.

Real-World Examples

These examples are sourced from owing to this on Ludwig.guru.

"The New Look created a furor precisely owing to this detail." — The New Yorker

"Wheat production in Mexico multiplied threefold owing to this and other varieties." — Encyclopedia Britannica

"Agricultural wage and aggregate employment in the economy may also improve owing to this policy." — International Review of Economics & Finance

"Owing to this warts-and-all populism, hip-hop now has antiheroes selling like heroes." — The New Yorker

"Owing to this, our office and many other consumer groups have opposed the merger." — The Economist

Examples sourced from https://ludwig.guru/s/owing+to+this

Similar Phrases and Alternatives

Phrase	Context
because of this	Slightly less formal than "owing to this"; suitable for general use.
due to this	Similar in formality to "because of this"; often used interchangeably.
as a consequence of this	More formal; emphasizes the resulting effect.
for this reason	Neutral in formality; clearly introduces the reason for something.
on account of this	Formal and somewhat archaic; less common in modern usage.
in light of this	Implies new information or understanding that leads to a conclusion.
therefore	Stronger logical implication; typical of academic and argumentative writing.

Common Mistakes

• Using "owing to this" to introduce a completely new topic without any preceding context.
• Omitting the comma after "owing to this" when it begins a sentence.
• Incorrectly using "in owing to this" or similar constructions, which are grammatically incorrect.
• Learners often confuse "owing to" with similar expressions like "due to" or "because of," sometimes using the wrong preposition or misplacing it in the sentence.

Quick-Reference Summary

Expression	Function	Register	Typical Position
Owing to this	Expresses cause and effect	Formal	Sentence-initial or mid-sentence

FAQs

Where can "owing to this" be placed in a sentence?

"Owing to this" typically appears at the beginning of a sentence, followed by a comma, to introduce the reason for the statement that follows. It can also be used mid-sentence to introduce a clause, though this is less common and can sometimes sound awkward. In either case, it must refer to something previously mentioned.

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How does "owing to this" differ from "because of this"?

While both "owing to this" and "because of this" express cause and effect, "owing to this" is generally considered more formal and is more frequently used in written or academic contexts. "Because of this" is more versatile and can be used in both formal and informal settings.

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What's the difference between "owing to," "due to," and "because of," and how do I avoid common mistakes?

"Owing to," "due to," and "because of" are all used to express cause, but they have slightly different grammatical behaviors. "Owing to" and "due to" function as adjectival phrases, while "because of" functions as an adverbial phrase. The most common mistake is using "due to" to modify a verb, which is incorrect; use "because of" instead. For example, say "The game was canceled because of rain" rather than "The game was canceled due to rain," or rephrase using "Owing to the rain, the game was canceled."