Word Confusion: As versus Because

Posted June 11, 2024 by kddidit in Author Resources, Self-Editing, Word Confusions, Writing

As and because are conjunctions that introduce subordinate clauses (a clause that can’t stand alone in a sentence) that connect a result and a reason.

As can mean because, particularly in the sense of the reason for, and it is also used when two events happen at the same time.

As a result of is a phrase that can substitute for because of while as long as is an informal equivalent of because and is used to express the thought that given that one thing is occurring or will occur or is true, another is possible.

Because emphasizes the reason and is the subordinate clause that ends the sentence.

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Exploring Later . . .

You may also want to explore “Nope, It’s Not As You Like It“, “As versus For“, “As versus Since“, “As versus That“, and/or “As versus Whether“.

You may also be curious about “Because Of versus Due To“.

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Word Confusions . . .

. . . started as my way of dealing with a professional frustration with properly spelled words that were out of context in manuscripts I was editing as well as books I was reviewing. It evolved into a sharing of information with y’all. I’m hoping you’ll share with us words that have been a bête noir for you from either end.

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As Because

Graphic image in pastels shows a girl holding up a bandaged index finger on her right hand

Injured Finger by oksmith is under the CC0 1.0 license, via OpenClipArt.

She can’t write very well, as she’s injured her finger.


Close-up of a woman's hands holding a cup of coffee in a white cup above a rough wood table.

Woman Holding Cup of Coffee is in the public domain, via PickPik.

Because of her diet, she only ordered a cup of coffee.

Part of Grammar:
Conjunction, causal Conjunction, causal
Check the Punctuation page for information on comma usage for:
as because
Because

  • For the reason that
  • The reason for
  • Since

Even though

As a result of

As long as

For the reason that

Since

By cause of

Examples:
Rule: As is often used in causal senses in place of because.
As Julie wasn’t hungry, she ordered only a cup of coffee. Because Julie wasn’t hungry, she ordered only a cup of coffee.
As he was ill, he stayed home. Because he was ill, he stayed home.
He stayed home, as he was ill. He stayed home, because he was ill.
She could not continue to play in the match as a result of her injuries.

Harry missed lunch, as a result, he is very hungry.

He opted not to go see the movie, as it had gotten poor reviews.

I must stop now as I have to go out.

As long as you’re going, could you pick some things up for me?

As a result of his intervention, the case was reopened and they were ultimately exonerated.

We did it because we felt it our duty.

Just because I’m inexperienced doesn’t mean that I lack perception.

History of the Word:
Middle English as a reduced form of the Old English alswā meaning similarly. Middle English from the phrase by cause and influenced by the Old French par cause de meaning by reason of.

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C’mon, get it out of your system, bitch, whine, moan . . . which words are your pet peeves? Also, please note that I try to be as accurate as I can, but mistakes happen or I miss something. Email me if you find errors, so I can fix them . . . and we’ll all benefit!

Satisfy your curiosity about other Word Confusions on its homepage or more generally explore the index of self-editing posts. You may also want to explore Book Layout & Formatting Ideas, Building Your Website, Formatting Tips, Grammar Explanations, Linguistics, Marketing Help & Resources, Publishing Tips, the Properly Punctuated, and/or Writing Ideas and Resources.

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Resources for As versus Because

Some of these links may be affiliate links, and I will earn a small percentage, if you should buy it. It does not affect the price you pay.

Apple Dictionary.com

Khurana, Anjali. “English Grammar: What part of speech is ‘as’?” Quora. 2012. Accessed n.d. <http://www.quora.com/Grammar/What-part-of-speech-is-as>.

Straus, Jane. “Tackling More Tricky Word Choices: As, Because, and Since.”
Grammar Book.com. n.d. Web. 6 May 2021. <https://www.grammarbook.com/blog/effective-writing/tackling-more-tricky-word-choices-as-because-and-since/>.

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Pinterest Photo Credits

Auction Sales in Greene County by Arthur Rothstein is in the public domain, via Picryl and courtesy of the Library of Congress.

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