Does this sentence sound right in English?
You can improve your English due to me.
Is it correct using "due to" in this case?
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1It's not considered a strictly improper usage by many nowadays (the 'because of' reading), but I certainly wouldn't be subscribing to a course offered by a prospective tutor advertising themself in this way.– Edwin AshworthCommented Dec 12, 2019 at 11:06
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"Unbelievably, we all passed our English Language A-levels – and this was all due to you" is an acceptable example of the 'because of, subset down to / ascribable to' sense of 'due to'. This might seem to license OP's example, but that sentence is almost completely unidiomatic. "You can all improve your English because of Professor Mandateler" is acceptable; replacing 'because of' with 'due to' is becoming less idiomatic, but is, I'd say, still acceptable. But OP's example is beyond the pale.– Edwin AshworthCommented Dec 12, 2019 at 12:46
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It looks both awkward and ambiguous to me. Is the speaker making the point that she is responsible for fact that the addressee is currently in a position to improve his command of English (because of things the speaker did in the past)? Or is she saying that her future involvement would enable the addressee to improve his English (if he so chose)? I have no idea.– FumbleFingersCommented Dec 12, 2019 at 12:59
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3 Answers
The expression “due to”, which numerous references claim means ‘caused by’, refers back to a noun or a pronoun, i.e. the antecedent.
- The improvement in your English is due to me.
- The improvement in your English is caused by me.
The Chicago Manual of Style says that we use “due to” in place of “attributable to,” but not if it can be replaced with “because of.”
- The improvement in your English is attributable to me (Yes)
- The improvement in your English is due to me. (Yes)
Daily Writing Tips says “Because of” is an adverb, which means it can only modify verbs, adjectives and clauses, but not nouns and pronouns.
- You can improve your English because of me. (Yes)
- You can improve your English due to me. (No)
The two-word preposition “because of” can be substituted with “as a result of”
- Your English improved because of me. (Yes)
- Your English improved as a result of me. (Yes)
In a passive construction, I'd suggest using the preposition by
Your English can be improved by me.
The OP can rewrite the original statement, using the present simple or future simple tense, as
- You can improve your English with my help/assistance.
- With my help/assistance your English will improve.
answered Dec 12, 2019 at 14:54
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I think this has more thorough analysis than previous answers. Commented Dec 12, 2019 at 15:19
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You quote a web page as saying that “because of” is an adverb. As you correctly point out later, it's a preposition. Would it be better to say that a preposition-phrase "because of N" is an adverb-phrase?– Rosie FCommented Dec 12, 2019 at 20:51
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@RosieF I try not to get involved in these types of discussion but speaking for myself I would call "because of N" a prepositional phrase. Commented Dec 12, 2019 at 20:53
The sentence is incorrect. "Due to" means "caused by", but that meaning doesn't suit the sentence you quoted. "Due to" can be used with certain nouns such as "thanks", as in "Thanks are due to XYZ for their good explanation". But "due to" is not used in that way in your sentence either.
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There have been various debunkings of the " 'due to' cannot be used to mean 'because of' " claim on ELU. Commented Dec 12, 2019 at 12:28
"Due to noun/gerund" explains the cause of something. Its synonyms are "because of" and "owning to". I think you should write the sentence as "You can improve your English for me".
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I think your "owning to" is a typo for "owing to", which indeed is a synonym of "because of". But "due to" is not.– Rosie FCommented Dec 12, 2019 at 11:54
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2I'm not sure that "You can improve your English for me" would be taken as having the same meaning as "You can improve your English due to me." Commented Dec 12, 2019 at 12:00