Because Of and Due To

Because Of and Due To Because Of and Due To Because Of and Due To By Guest Author The saying too many cooks spoil the broth is spot on in the case of English language. Today, even native speakers make blunders in written and spoken English, being influenced by current trends. One such trend we are talking about is the misuse of due to and because of. Many are of the opinion that both of the pairs refer to the same thing, and that they can be used as synonyms. This is an absolute misconception. They cannot be used interchangeably because they do not belong to the same classification. When the classification is not the same, how can the usage be? Some native English speakers also claim that a sentence cannot be started with the pair because of. However, they are unable to demonstrate the reasons. In some cases, the sentence cannot be started with because of whereas in some cases it can. This is the sole purpose of this post. We will be discussing the legitimate reasons, usage and rules associated with both the word pairs. The Classification of The Word Groups In order to get a clear understanding of how to use both the word groups it is imperative to first know their classifications. Due to is an adjective, which means it can only modify pronouns and nouns according to the purest English grammar rules. Because of is an adverb, which means it can only modify verbs, adjectives and clauses, but not nouns and pronouns. The Explanation It is quite difficult to grasp the concept outrightly with just categorizing the two word groups. So, it is important to lay down a little explanation along with some examples for you to get a clearer idea. Here are some examples of the usage of both the word groups: His frustration was due to the mucked up windscreen. He was frustrated due to the mucked up windscreen. In general, both of the sentences may sound right to you, but they are not. Carefully look at the first sentence and apply the grammar rule of noun modification. The word his is a possessive noun and it is complementing the noun frustration, and was is there as a linking verb. Now, due to the mucked up windscreen itself is an adjectival prepositional phrase which is the complement or the reason being attached to the noun with the help of the linking verb was. Therefore, in this case the usage of due to is absolutely right because it is fulfilling the purpose of modifying the noun. Now, take a look at the second and apply the same rule there. The pair due to is not connecting nor complementing the noun because the possessive noun his has been changed to he, which is a pronoun. This way, he is not the possessive noun now has become the main subject of the sentence and a pronoun. The pair due to has nothing to modify here because the verb is now was frustrated and adjectives cannot modify verbs. Henceforth, to connect a reason or a compliment to this sentence the adverb because of should be attached with the reason to make it appropriate. The correct sentence would be: He was frustrated because of the mucked up windscreen. As you can see, the pair because of is now modifying the verb was frustrated, so this sentence is correct now. Use This Trick When in Doubt One trick you can use is to substitute due to with caused by. If the substitution does not work, then you probably shouldnt use due to there. For example: My low grade was due to lack of study. My low grade was caused by lack of study. The substitution works, so due to is being used correctly. Here is another example: I missed the class due to the rain. I missed the class caused by the rain. The substitution doesnt work here, so due to shouldnt be used there. The correct sentence would be: I missed the class because of the rain. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Expressions category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Is She a "Lady" or a "Woman"?15 Types of DocumentsParataxis and Hypotaxis

How to Create a Perfect Retail Sales Resume

How to Create a Perfect Retail Sales Resume If you’ve worked in the world of retail before, you know that you bring a lot of things to the table: maybe some Tetris mastering when it comes to shelfs)How to Write a Perfect Occupational Therapist ResumeHow to Write a Perfect Physician Assistant Resume (Examples Included)How to Write a Perfect Receptionist Resume (Examples Included)How to Create a Perfect Retail ResumeHow to Write a Perfect Sales Associate Resume (Examples Included)How to Write a Perfect Social Worker Resume (Examples Included)How to Write a Perfect Truck Driver Resume (With Examples)

The history and culture of Japan Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

The history and culture of Japan - Essay Example Japan's history is a rich and varied one, with the different periods marked by remarkable change. In the Yayoi period (300 BC - AD 300), rice cultivation was introduced from China and Korea, and Japan's oldest religion, Shinto, identified "divine forces in nature and in such human virtues as loyalty and wisdom."The Kofun period (300-645) showed the emergence of powerful clan rulers, and Japan begins to establish close contacts with mainland Asia. The Asuka period, (645-710) brought a great wave of reforms and new aristocratic families were created. During the Nara and Heian periods (710-1185) the emperors began to practice Buddhism, believing its teachings would protect the state. The Muromachi era (1333 to 1568) brought disintegration of the central government, firearms were introduced by the shipwrecked Portuguese soldiers, and Christianity was introduced . Finally in the Edo period (1600-1868) Japan enters into an age of "peace and national isolation". The United States wants to u se the Japanese ports as supply bases for its commercial fleet, and, in a surprise move, Japan accepts the US demands and opens its doors for the first time in two centuries. In the Meiji period (1868-1912), the emperor was restored, and Japan made its transition to nation-state. The Showa period (1926-1989) brought many more changes for Japan, including World War II and its aftermath, including the necessary economic recovery. In 1941 Pearl Harbor brought the US into war in the Pacific and in August of 1945 "the first atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, the second on Nagasaki; the emperor airs by radio a statement of unconditional surrender." (Background, 2005, p. 5). The years of 1945-1952 brought allied occupation of Japan, with women gaining legal equality as well as the right to vote. Japan's political life was changed to a parliamentary state, and with the peace treaty signed in 1951, Japan regained independence. The "High Growth Age" in Japan occurred from the late 1950's t o the early 1970's and Japan was rewarded with a booming economy. (Background, 2005, p. 5). Japan is made up of five islands; however there are some thirty-six hundred islands in the entire group, and dozens that are actually inhabited. Japan has twenty-nine thousand kilometers of coastline, and the total land area is 142,000 square miles which makes Japan one-twenty-fifth the size of the United States, or roughly the size of Montana. Ostensibly, some one billion years ago these Japanese islands were part of the Asian mainland, however movement of the earth's plates resulted in part of the Asian coastline breaking free and traveling east. Then a mere 100 million years ago, in the area that is now the Sea of Japan, a huge lake appeared, eventually linking up with the Pacific Ocean in the north and south, leaving the highest regions to become the islands of Japan. (Lafayette, 1995, p. xi). Seventy percent of Japan's land mass is made up of high mountains and hills. These mountains have over two hundred volcanoes and geothermally active areas. There are eleven peaks in Japan that are over three thousand meters high, and thirteen that are over 2500 meters high. These mountainous areas make Japan one of the most scenic groups of islands in the world.(Layfayette, 1995, p. xi). The climate of Japan is generally rainy, with a fairly high humidity. The Japanese enjoy warm summers and long cold winters in the north, and hot humid summers and short winters in the central regions. The southwest has long, hot, humid summers, and mild winters. (Library, 2005, p. 1). Japan's population is currently 127,417,224 million people, a huge number for such a small area. Japan is second only to the United States in the number of large cities-they presently have ten cities with populations over one