Anglicism has struck again.
Like the leprosy that plagued France in the 12th and 13th centuries, it seized on French words and deflowered our language.
In its book
Dire, ne pas dire
, which lists the innumerable mistakes we make on a daily basis, the French Academy observes that the incorrect use of the phrase "due to" is more and more frequent.
Do not despair, it is never too late to correct yourself!
"Due" wrongly used for "because of"
The Academy recalls that the phrase “due to” cannot be used to say “due to, because of”.
When it is placed at the beginning of a sentence, it is a fault.
We do not say "Due to the rain, he arrived soaked" but "Because of the rain, he arrived soaked."
As the wise underline it, the expression “due to”, which comes from the verb “to have”, is used only in the case where it is followed by a complement of cause.
So we say: "It owes its failure to its lack of work", or else "the economic crisis due to the epidemic."
Anglicism born from the verb "due to"
The English say: "Du to the climate change, the world is changing."
The misuse of "due to" is undoubtedly linked to this English construction.
However, this use is "a gross error, which should be avoided with all force", affirm the immortals.
We can bet that the French language will one day be relieved of the invasion of English words in our daily expressions.
