C1 Conjunctions & Connectors 10 min read Hard

Formal Reasons: Owing to and In view of

Elevate your formal communication by using owing to for direct causes and in view of for considered reasons.

Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

Use 'owing to' and 'in view of' to provide formal reasons or context for decisions in professional writing.

  • Use 'owing to' as a formal synonym for 'because of' followed by a noun phrase: 'Owing to rain, we stayed.'
  • Use 'in view of' to mean 'considering' or 'given the fact of': 'In view of the budget, we cut costs.'
  • Never follow these with a full clause (subject + verb); always use a noun or gerund (-ing).
Connector + 📛 Noun Phrase / 🏃‍♂️ Gerund + , + 📝 Main Clause

Overview

Use these words for work or school. They are very clear. They are better than saying because of.

These words give a reason. They are not the same. Use the right one to sound smart.

This page shows you how to use these words well.

Use these before a name or a thing. Use them at work. Do not use them with friends.

How This Grammar Works

These words show why something happened. Put a thing after them. Do not put a full sentence.
Owing to means because of. It shows the real reason something happened.
Use it to explain a situation or a fact.
Imagine a plane does not fly. This is because of bad rain. Say: The flight stopped owing to bad rain.
The rain stopped the plane. He failed owing to no study. This word shows a fact.
In view of shows a reason for a choice. You think about a fact. Then you decide what to do.
You look at the situation. Then you choose what to do next.
People change plans because of facts. Say: The plan changed in view of the high cost.
The budget constraints were the primary consideration that led to the decision to extend the timeline. This phrase implies a rational assessment of circumstances preceding a deliberate choice.
Owing to explains why you do something. Use it after a verb. This is for very good writing.
These words never change. They always stay the same.

Formation Pattern

1
Put a person or a thing after these words. Do not put a person and an action.
2
Sentence + owing to or in view of + thing.
3
You can also put the reason at the start.
4
Owing to or in view of + thing + comma + sentence.
5
Look at these examples to learn.
6
Type of word | Owing to | In view of
7
|-----------------|---------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------|
8
Name | The game stopped owing to rain. | In view of safety, we stopped.
9
Group of words | We lost money owing to more shops. | We changed in view of new rules.
10
Action word | He won owing to working hard. | In view of growing, use new plans.
11
Him or This | We won owing to him. | In view of this, we wait.
12
Use a comma after the first part. This makes the sentence clear. Example: Owing to traffic, I am late.

When To Use It

Use these for serious work. Pick the best word for your reason.
Use Owing to for:
  • Direct Causation: When one event or state is the direct and unavoidable cause of another. This is common in scientific, technical, or factual reporting.
  • The experiment failed owing to a calibration error in the equipment. (The error directly caused the failure.)
  • Attributing States or Conditions: Explaining why something is in a particular state.
  • The building’s structural integrity was compromised owing to years of neglect. (Neglect directly led to the compromised state.)
  • Formal Explanations of Events: In official reports, explanations for incidents, or formal announcements.
  • Production was halted owing to an unexpected system malfunction. (Malfunction directly caused the halt.)
Use In View of for:
  • Reasons for Decisions or Actions: When a particular circumstance or piece of information influences a deliberate choice or strategy.
  • The board decided to postpone the merger in view of market volatility. (Market volatility was the key consideration for the decision.)
  • Justifying Policy or Strategy: Explaining the rationale behind a course of action.
  • New security measures were implemented in view of recent threats. (Threats prompted the implementation of measures.)
  • Considering Specific Information: When taking specific data, feedback, or evidence into account.
  • In view of the survey results, we will revise our product design. (Survey results influenced the revision decision.)
Use "because of" every day. Use the others for formal work.
  • Business Correspondence: Official emails, memorandums, reports, and proposals.
  • Academic Writing: Research papers, theses, grant applications, and scholarly articles.
  • Legal and Governmental Documents: Contracts, legislation, official statements, and policy briefs.
  • Formal Public Speaking: Presentations, lectures, and addresses where gravitas and clarity are essential.
Avoid these phrases in casual conversation, personal emails to friends, or informal social media posts, as they would sound unduly stiff or pedantic. The table below summarizes their primary applications:
| Aspect | Owing to | In View of |
|-------------------|-------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------|
One shows a cause. The other shows a choice.
| Focus | What directly caused X to happen/exist | What was taken into account before Y was decided/done |
| Tone | Objective, factual | Deliberative, rational |
| Example | The delay was owing to unforeseen technical issues. | In view of the budget, we chose a more economical option. |

Common Mistakes

These words are difficult. Learn the rules to write perfectly.
  1. 1Using a Full Clause After the Phrase: This is perhaps the most prevalent error. Both owing to and in view of are prepositions, not subordinating conjunctions. They must be followed by a noun, noun phrase, gerund, or pronoun, never a subject-verb clause.
  • Incorrect: Owing to it rained heavily, the match was cancelled.
  • Correct: Owing to the heavy rain, the match was cancelled. (Here, the heavy rain is a noun phrase.)
  • Incorrect: In view of they had insufficient funds, the project stalled.
  • Correct: In view of their insufficient funds, the project stalled. (Here, their insufficient funds is a noun phrase.)
  • Correction Strategy: If you need a full clause, use a conjunction like because or since: Because it rained heavily, the match was cancelled.
  1. 1Confusing Owing to with Due to (Traditional View): While modern usage often blurs the line, formal English maintains a distinction. Traditionally, due to is an adjective and must modify a noun, whereas owing to is an adverbial prepositional phrase, modifying a verb or a clause.
  • Incorrect (traditional): The cancellation was owing to bad weather. (Here, owing to bad weather is trying to modify cancellation, a noun, which is traditionally due to's role.)
  • Correct (traditional): The cancellation was due to bad weather. (Adjective due to modifies noun cancellation.)
  • Correct (adverbial): The flight was cancelled owing to bad weather. (Adverbial owing to modifies verb was cancelled.)
  • C1 Advice: For highest precision, use due to when it functions adjectivally (e.g., The problem is due to X) and owing to when it functions adverbially (e.g., The problem arose owing to X).
  1. 1Interchanging Owing to and In View of Incorrectly: While both introduce reasons, their underlying logic differs. Using one when the other is more appropriate can obscure the precise relationship between cause and effect or decision and consideration.
  • Incorrect: The company launched a new product owing to market demand. (Market demand is a consideration for a decision, not a direct cause of the launch itself.)
  • Correct: The company launched a new product in view of market demand.
  • Incorrect: The bridge collapsed in view of structural weaknesses. (A collapse is a direct event, not a decision influenced by consideration.)
  • Correct: The bridge collapsed owing to structural weaknesses.
  1. 1Overuse and Stiltedness: The formality of these phrases means their frequent appearance can make your writing sound unnatural, verbose, or overly academic. Vary your sentence structure and choice of connectors. While demonstrating advanced vocabulary is good, clarity and natural flow take precedence.
  1. 1Placement and Punctuation: When these phrases introduce a sentence, a comma must follow them. Omitting this comma can lead to confusion or make the sentence difficult to parse.
  • Incorrect: Owing to his experience he was promoted quickly.
  • Correct: Owing to his experience, he was promoted quickly.

Real Conversations

While owing to and in view of are primarily written constructs, they do surface in specific oral contexts that demand formality and precision. You won't hear them in casual chats, but in professional presentations, formal meetings, or even in news analyses, their presence adds significant weight and intellectual rigor.

Imagine a CEO addressing shareholders about company performance:

-

Structure of Formal Reason Phrases

Connector Followed By Example Noun Phrase Resulting Meaning
Owing to
Noun Phrase
the heavy traffic
Because of the traffic
Owing to
Gerund (-ing)
being understaffed
Because we are understaffed
In view of
Noun Phrase
the recent events
Considering the events
In view of
Gerund (-ing)
having no choice
Considering we have no choice
Owing to
the fact that + Clause
the fact that it was late
Because it was late
In view of
the fact that + Clause
the fact that costs rose
Considering that costs rose

Meanings

These phrases function as compound prepositions used to introduce a reason (owing to) or a specific circumstance that influences a decision (in view of).

1

Causal Origin

Attributing an outcome directly to a specific cause, similar to 'due to'.

“Owing to a mechanical failure, the flight was delayed.”

“The project failed owing to a lack of clear communication.”

2

Circumstantial Consideration

Taking a particular fact or situation into account when making a judgment or decision.

“In view of the recent scandals, the CEO has resigned.”

“In view of your excellent performance, we are offering a bonus.”

3

Legal/Administrative Justification

Providing a formal basis for a rule, law, or official statement.

“In view of the evidence presented, the jury reached a verdict.”

“Owing to the state of emergency, a curfew has been implemented.”

Reference Table

Reference table for Formal Reasons: Owing to and In view of
Form Structure Example
Affirmative (Initial)
Owing to [Noun], [Clause]
Owing to the rain, the event was cancelled.
Affirmative (Mid)
[Clause] owing to [Noun]
The event was cancelled owing to the rain.
Considerative (Initial)
In view of [Noun], [Clause]
In view of the costs, we will not proceed.
Considerative (Mid)
[Clause] in view of [Noun]
We will not proceed in view of the costs.
Gerund Form
Owing to [Gerund], [Clause]
Owing to being ill, he stayed home.
Clausal Link
Owing to the fact that [Clause]
Owing to the fact that he was ill, he stayed home.

Formality Spectrum

Formal
The flight has been delayed owing to adverse weather conditions.

The flight has been delayed owing to adverse weather conditions. (Airport announcement)

Neutral
The flight is late because of the strong winds.

The flight is late because of the strong winds. (Airport announcement)

Informal
The plane's late 'cause it's windy.

The plane's late 'cause it's windy. (Airport announcement)

Slang
Flight's stuck 'cause of the breeze.

Flight's stuck 'cause of the breeze. (Airport announcement)

The Reason Spectrum

Reason Connectors

Informal

  • Because Direct reason
  • So Result

Neutral

  • Because of Standard cause
  • Due to Standard cause

Formal (C1)

  • Owing to Formal cause
  • In view of Formal consideration

Owing to vs. In view of

Owing to
Cause-focused Directly links A to B
Synonym Because of
In view of
Context-focused Links decision to context
Synonym Considering

Examples by Level

1

I am late because of the rain.

2

He is happy because of his gift.

3

The shop is closed because of the holiday.

4

We are tired because of the walk.

1

The flight is late owing to the snow.

2

Owing to the heat, we stayed inside.

3

In view of the price, I didn't buy it.

4

Owing to a cold, she missed school.

1

Owing to the lack of interest, the class was cancelled.

2

In view of the current situation, we must wait.

3

The match was postponed owing to a waterlogged pitch.

4

In view of his age, he was allowed to enter for free.

1

Owing to the complexity of the task, we need more time.

2

In view of the rising costs, the project was abandoned.

3

The company succeeded owing to its innovative approach.

4

In view of the feedback, we have updated the app.

1

Owing to the fact that the data was corrupted, the results are void.

2

In view of the prevailing economic climate, austerity measures are necessary.

3

The defendant was acquitted owing to a lack of substantial evidence.

4

In view of the impending deadline, we must expedite the process.

1

Owing to the inherent volatility of the markets, caution is advised.

2

In view of the historical precedents, the court's decision was expected.

3

The theory was discarded owing to its failure to account for anomalies.

4

In view of the sheer scale of the disaster, international aid was mobilized.

Easily Confused

Formal Reasons: Owing to and In view of vs Due to vs. Owing to

Learners use them interchangeably, but 'due to' is technically an adjective and 'owing to' is an adverb.

Formal Reasons: Owing to and In view of vs In view of vs. In light of

They are very similar, but 'in light of' often implies new information has been revealed.

Common Mistakes

I am late owing to I missed the bus.

I am late because I missed the bus.

A1 learners should not use 'owing to' with a full sentence.

Owing to rain.

Owing to the rain.

You still need an article (the/a) for the noun phrase.

In view of to save money, we stayed home.

In view of saving money, we stayed home.

Use a gerund (-ing), not an infinitive (to save).

The success was owing to the team.

The success was due to the team.

In strict formal grammar, 'due to' follows the verb 'to be', while 'owing to' acts as an adverbial.

Sentence Patterns

Owing to ___, the decision was made to ___.

In view of ___, it is recommended that ___.

Real World Usage

Corporate Boardroom very common

In view of the quarterly losses, we must restructure.

Academic Journal constant

Owing to the lack of previous research, this study is exploratory.

Legal Contract very common

Owing to a force majeure event, the contract is suspended.

Public Transport Announcement common

Owing to a shortage of staff, some services are cancelled.

Formal Email common

In view of your request, I have attached the documents.

News Broadcast occasional

Owing to the protests, the city center is closed.

🎯

The 'Fact That' Hack

If you really want to use a full sentence after 'owing to', just add 'the fact that'. Example: 'Owing to the fact that it was raining...'
⚠️

Avoid in Casual Speech

Using 'owing to' while grabbing a coffee with friends will make you sound like a 19th-century professor. Stick to 'because of'.
💡

Placement for Emphasis

Put the 'owing to' phrase at the start of the sentence to emphasize the cause. Put it at the end to emphasize the result.
💬

British Politeness

In the UK, 'owing to' is often used in apologies to make the excuse sound more objective and less like a personal failure.

Smart Tips

Swap 'because of' for 'owing to' to instantly sound more professional.

The project is late because of some bugs. The project has been delayed owing to technical issues.

Use 'In view of' at the start of your concluding sentence to tie your arguments together.

So, we should change the law. In view of the evidence presented, a change in legislation is recommended.

Try to simplify the following clause into a single noun phrase.

Owing to the fact that the weather was bad... Owing to the inclement weather...

Try replacing it with 'Because of'. If it works, 'Owing to' is grammatically correct.

Owing to I was late (Because of I was late - Wrong) Owing to my lateness (Because of my lateness - Right)

Pronunciation

/ˈəʊɪŋ tə/

Linking 'Owing to'

The 'g' in 'owing' is soft, and the 'to' is often reduced to a schwa /tə/.

/ɪn ˈvjuː əv/

Stress in 'In view of'

The primary stress is on 'view'. 'In' and 'of' are unstressed.

Introductory Phrase Rise

Owing to the rain (rising), we stayed home (falling).

Signals that more information is coming.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

O.W.E. = Origin Was Evidence (Owing to = Origin/Cause; In View of = Evidence/Consideration).

Visual Association

Imagine a judge looking through a window (View) at evidence before making a decision. For 'Owing to', imagine a debt (Owe) being the direct reason you have no money.

Rhyme

Owing to the rain, we feel the pain; In view of the cost, the deal was lost.

Story

A CEO is looking at a financial report. 'Owing to the deficit,' he says, 'we are in trouble.' Then, looking at the team's potential, he adds, 'In view of your talent, we will try one more time.'

Word Web

Because ofDue toConsideringGivenOn account ofBy reason ofIn light of

Challenge

Write three sentences about your last job or school project using 'owing to' for a problem and 'in view of' for a decision you made.

Cultural Notes

British English uses 'owing to' slightly more frequently in formal public notices (e.g., on the Tube or at train stations) than American English.

In peer-reviewed journals, 'owing to' is preferred over 'because of' to maintain an objective, detached tone.

'In view of' is a standard phrase in legal judgments to introduce the facts that led to a specific ruling.

'Owing' comes from the Old English 'agan' (to possess/owe). It shifted from financial debt to 'attributable to' in the 17th century.

Conversation Starters

In view of the current environmental crisis, what is the most important change individuals should make?

Owing to the rise of AI, how do you think your job will change in five years?

Journal Prompts

Write a formal letter to a city council explaining why a local park should be preserved, using 'in view of' and 'owing to'.
Describe a time a project failed. Use 'owing to' to describe the causes.

Common Mistakes

Incorrect

Correct


Incorrect

Correct


Incorrect

Correct


Incorrect

Correct

Test Yourself

Choose the correct phrase to complete the formal sentence. Multiple Choice

_______ the high level of interest, we have added a second session.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Owing to
'Owing to' is followed by a noun phrase ('the high level of interest'). 'Because' and 'Since' need a full clause.
Complete the sentence with 'Owing to' or 'In view of'.

_______ the recent security breach, all passwords must be changed.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: In view of
'In view of' is better here as it implies a decision made after considering a situation.
Correct the error in the following sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Owing to it was a holiday, the banks were closed.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Owing to the holiday
'Owing to' cannot be followed by 'it was'. It needs a noun phrase.
Rewrite the sentence using 'In view of'. Sentence Transformation

Because the weather is getting worse, we should leave now.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: In view of the worsening weather, we should leave now.
The clause 'the weather is getting worse' becomes the noun phrase 'the worsening weather'.
Is the following rule true or false? True False Rule

'Owing to' can be used interchangeably with 'because' in all situations.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: False
'Owing to' is formal and requires a noun phrase, while 'because' is neutral and requires a clause.
Which of these must be followed by a noun phrase? Grammar Sorting

Select all that apply.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Owing to, In view of, Due to
Only 'Because' (without 'of') requires a subject and a verb.
Complete the formal dialogue. Dialogue Completion

Manager: Why was the report late? Assistant: _______ technical difficulties, sir.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Owing to
'Owing to' is the standard formal way to explain a cause for a delay.
Match the connector to its best synonym. Match Pairs

Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 1-Because of, 2-Considering, 3-Since
These are the closest semantic matches in terms of function.

Score: /8

Practice Exercises

8 exercises
Choose the correct phrase to complete the formal sentence. Multiple Choice

_______ the high level of interest, we have added a second session.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Owing to
'Owing to' is followed by a noun phrase ('the high level of interest'). 'Because' and 'Since' need a full clause.
Complete the sentence with 'Owing to' or 'In view of'.

_______ the recent security breach, all passwords must be changed.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: In view of
'In view of' is better here as it implies a decision made after considering a situation.
Correct the error in the following sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Owing to it was a holiday, the banks were closed.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Owing to the holiday
'Owing to' cannot be followed by 'it was'. It needs a noun phrase.
Rewrite the sentence using 'In view of'. Sentence Transformation

Because the weather is getting worse, we should leave now.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: In view of the worsening weather, we should leave now.
The clause 'the weather is getting worse' becomes the noun phrase 'the worsening weather'.
Is the following rule true or false? True False Rule

'Owing to' can be used interchangeably with 'because' in all situations.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: False
'Owing to' is formal and requires a noun phrase, while 'because' is neutral and requires a clause.
Which of these must be followed by a noun phrase? Grammar Sorting

Select all that apply.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Owing to, In view of, Due to
Only 'Because' (without 'of') requires a subject and a verb.
Complete the formal dialogue. Dialogue Completion

Manager: Why was the report late? Assistant: _______ technical difficulties, sir.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Owing to
'Owing to' is the standard formal way to explain a cause for a delay.
Match the connector to its best synonym. Match Pairs

Connectors: 1. Owing to, 2. In view of, 3. Because

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 1-Because of, 2-Considering, 3-Since
These are the closest semantic matches in terms of function.

Score: /8

Practice Bank

12 exercises
Complete the sentence with the most suitable formal phrase. Fill in the Blank

The factory halted production ___ a sudden shortage of raw materials.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: owing to
Identify and correct the grammatical error. Error Correction

In view of the market research showed positive trends, we launched the product.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: In view of the positive market research trends, we launched the product.
Select the sentence that uses `in view of` correctly. Multiple Choice

Which sentence is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: The manager approved the proposal in view of its innovative approach.
Translate the sentence into formal English using `owing to` or `in view of`. Translation

Translate into English: 'El retraso del proyecto se debió a problemas inesperados de software.'

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ["The project's delay was owing to unexpected software issues.","The project delay was owing to unexpected software issues."]
Arrange the words to form a grammatically correct sentence. Sentence Reorder

Arrange these words into a sentence:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: The board decided to cancel the merger in view of the economic uncertainty.
Match the scenario with the most appropriate formal reason phrase. Match Pairs

Match each scenario with the best introductory phrase:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: matched
Choose the best formal connector. Fill in the Blank

The company's stock value declined ___ decreased consumer confidence.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: owing to
Select the sentence that uses `owing to` correctly. Multiple Choice

Which sentence is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Owing to his extensive research, the scientist made a breakthrough.
Translate the sentence into formal English. Translation

Translate into English: 'Considerando las nuevas regulaciones, la empresa tuvo que ajustar su política de privacidad.'

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ["In view of the new regulations, the company had to adjust its privacy policy.","The company had to adjust its privacy policy in view of the new regulations."]
Unscramble the words to form a meaningful sentence. Sentence Reorder

Arrange these words into a sentence:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: We developed the new product in view of customer feedback.
Correct the grammar in the following sentence. Error Correction

The decision was made in view of that the costs were too high.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: The decision was made in view of the high costs.
Match the sentences with the best reason phrase. Match Pairs

Match the following:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: matched

Score: /12

FAQ (8)

Yes, it is very common in formal writing. Just remember to put a comma after the introductory phrase.

They are very similar. `In light of` usually suggests that new information has changed how we see things, while `In view of` is a more general consideration of facts.

Because `owing to` is a preposition, and prepositions take nouns, not clauses. You must say `Owing to my tiredness` or `Owing to the fact that I was tired`.

It is used in both, but it is slightly more frequent in British formal registers, especially in official announcements.

You can, but it will sound very sarcastic or overly formal. It's better to use `since` or `because`.

Traditionally, `due to` follows a noun (The delay was due to rain), while `owing to` is adverbial (Owing to rain, we were late). Today, they are often used interchangeably.

Yes! For example: `In view of having already paid, we decided to attend the event.`

Not necessarily, but it is very often used to explain problems, delays, or cancellations.

Scaffolded Practice

1

1

2

2

3

3

4

4

Mastery Progress

Needs Practice

Improving

Strong

Mastered

In Other Languages

Spanish high

Debido a / En vista de

Spanish uses 'en vista de' more frequently in semi-formal speech than English uses 'in view of'.

French high

En raison de / Étant donné

French often uses 'grâce à' for positive reasons, whereas 'owing to' is usually neutral or negative.

German moderate

Aufgrund / Angesichts

German requires the genitive case after these prepositions, which adds a layer of grammatical complexity not found in English.

Japanese partial

〜によって (~ni yotte) / 〜を鑑みて (~wo kangamite)

Japanese connectors often come at the end of the reason phrase, whereas English ones come at the beginning.

Arabic moderate

بسبب (bisabab) / نظراً لـ (nazaran li)

Arabic often uses a 'li' (for) construction that doesn't have a direct 1:1 prepositional match in English.

Chinese high

由于 (yóuyú) / 鉴于 (jiànyú)

Chinese does not use articles, so the noun phrase structure is simpler.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

Was this helpful?

Comments (0)

Login to Comment
No comments yet. Be the first to share your thoughts!