23. English - Grammatical Distinctions Between Due To and Owing To

Grammatical Distinctions: Due To vs. Owing To Many writers confuse "due to" and "owing to", using them interchangeably. However, they serve distinct grammatical roles. "Due to" functions as an adjectival phrase modifying nouns. It typically follows a linking verb, such as in "the cancellation was due to rain." Conversely, "owing to" functions as an adverbial phrase meaning "because of," modifying verbs or entire clauses. For example, "owing to the rain, the game was cancelled." The primary mistake is using "due to" at the start of a sentence to modify an action. Correcting this distinction restores proper modifier placement and sharpens overall sentence clarity.