Eliminate wordiness when you mean ‘because’

There are a lot of ways to say “because,” including “due to,” “since” and “as.” However, some constructions can be confusing or wordy, so you should consider your phrasing when trying to express “because” in writing. Bonnie Mills sorts out the best ways to use these words.

Avoid “the reason is because.” This is redundant. Instead of writing “The reason for the policy change is because there’s new technology,” try “The policy is changing because there’s new technology.”

“Due to” can often be replaced with “because.” Consider the sentence “Due to inclement weather, the picnic has been canceled.” It’s technically correct, but better written as “The picnic has been canceled because of bad weather.” You should only use “due to” when it can be replaced with “attributable to” or with its other uses, such as “The money is due to me by Friday” or “She’s due to arrive at noon.”

“Since” is a confusing replacement for “because” in writing. For example, “Since I washed my car, it rained.” It’s unclear whether you’re saying it has rained in the elapsed time from when you washed your car or that you think it rained because you washed your car. It’s better to write “It rained because I washed my car” or “It has rained since the last time I washed my car.”

“As” is also a confusing and wordy substitute for “because.” Consider this example: “As I have taken on new duties at work, I can no longer participate in Monday’s meeting.” Try it in a straightforward way: “I can’t participate in Monday’s meeting because I have taken on new duties at work.”

— Adapted from “‘Because,’ ‘Due To,’ ‘Since,’ and ‘As,’” Bonnie Mills, Grammar Girl.