because of, due to, thanks to, owing to, as a result of, on account of等都可以用来表示原因，都表示“由于”的意思,但其用法却各有不同。下面就其用法分述如下：
■because of
because of意为“因为，由于”，普通用语，比其他短语更口语化,强调因果关系；构成的短语在句子中通常作状语，一般不作表语用；后面可接名词、代词、分词或what引导的名词性从句等。如：
He is likely to miss the US Open because of his back injury. 他因为背部有伤可能缺席美国公开赛。（置于句后作状语）
Because of my bad leg ,I couldn’t walk so fast as the others. 由于我的腿坏了，我不能像其他人走得那么快。（置于句首作状语，但用逗号与其他部分分开）
Because of his wife’s being there, I said nothing about it. 因为他妻子在场，我对此事只字未提。(接-ing分词短语)
He realized that she was crying because of what he had said. 他意识到她在哭是因为他说的那些话。(接what从句)
■due to
due to表示“由于，因……造成”，强调造成后果的原因，在句中作表语、状语和定语。作表语和状语时与owing to同义。但规范英语仅将due to 用于动词be之后作表语。作状语时，不用于句首，一般不与其他成分隔开。如：
This accident was due to（owing to）his careless driving．这次车祸是由于他开车疏忽大意造成的。（作表语）
Accidents due to driving at high speed were very common that weekend. 在那个周末因高速驾驶造成的交通事故很多。（作定语）
He arrived late due to（owing to）the storm．由于暴风雨他来晚了。（作状语）
注意：due to除可表示原因外，还有“应给于，应属于”的意思。
Our grateful thanks are due to you. 向你表示我们衷心的感谢。
Respect is due to older people. 年长者应受到尊重。
■on account of
on account of 当“因为”讲，后面常接名词。on account of与because of，owing to同义，但语气较为正式。可作状语、表语，不作定语。如：
He could not come on account of his illness．他因病不能前来。
We delayed our departure on account of the bad weather. 由于天气不好，我们将起程时间推迟了。
That was on account of lack of exercise．那是由于缺乏锻炼。
注意：
on my/your account 为了你/我的缘故
on this/that account 由于这个/那个缘故
On this account, we should be cautious. 因为这个缘故我们应该谨慎。
He is angry on that account. 由于那个缘故他生气了。
She left her hometown on his account. 她是为了他才离开家乡的。
■owing to
owing to 与because of一样引出介词短语，也强调因果关系，在句中作状语, 作状语时, 习惯上用逗号和句子其他部分分开。
注意：作状语时修饰整个句子，可在句首或句末，用逗号隔开。owing to 除作状语外，也可作表语，但because of 不作表语。
They decided to cancel the flight，owing to the storm．由于这场暴风雨，他们决定取消这个航班。（作状语）
Owing to his careless driving, we had a bad accident. 由于他驾驶疏忽，我们发生了次严重车祸。（作状语）
His death was owing to an accident．他死于一场事故。（作表语）
注意：owe vt. 欠(债等); 把……归功于(to); 感激; 感恩。
I owe him ten dollars. 我欠他10美元。
He owes his success to his hard work. 他认为自己取得成功是辛勤劳动的结果。
I owe you for your help. 我感谢你的帮助。
thanks to “由于或因为某人（某事）”，通常用于好的方面，多用于表达正面意思，相当于感谢，有时可作“反语”。在句中作状语和表语。引导的介词短语可置于句首或句末。
The play succeeded thanks to your timely help. 由于你的及时帮助，那出戏才成功。（作状语）
Thanks to your help, we were successful. 多亏了你的帮助，我们得以成功。（作状语）
Thanks to the bad weather ,the match had been cancelled. 多亏这个倒霉天气，挺好的比赛取消了。（反语）
It’s thanks to this opportunity that his talent wasn’t buried. 幸亏这次机会,才使得他的才华不至于埋没。（作表语）
注意：small thanks to 一点也不感激
We were successful, but small thanks to you. 我们成功了，但一点也不感激你。
■as a result of
as a result of为短语介词，后跟名词、代词等，意为“由于……的原因”相当于because of，可置于句首或句末；as a result为副词用法，意为“因此，结果”,在句中需用逗号停顿。如：
The train was delayed as a result of the heavy rain. 由于大雨的缘故，火车晚点了。
He got up very late today. As a result, he missed the first bus. 他今天起晚了，结果没赶上头班车。
注意：in consequence of 与as a result of 同义，“由于……的缘故”，in consequence 与as a result 同义，“因此，结果”，在句中需用逗号停顿。如：
The flight was delayed in consequence of fog. 因为雾该航班误点。
on account of
on (the) ground(s) of
in view of
by reason of
by virtue of
as a result of
这几个短语也可表示“原因”，较because of 更为正式。
1) He invited her to dinner, but she declined on account of urgent business.
他邀请她一起吃晚餐，可是由于有紧急的事要处理她婉言谢绝了。
2）I think that our company should adopt a more feasible strategy on account of
the changing market conditions.
由于市场环境不断变化，我认为我们的公司应该采取更可行的策略。
3) He was obliged to retire at early fifty on the ground of his failing
health.
由于健康状况不佳，他不得不在50岁就早早退休。
4）We have to stay at home on grounds of the heavy rain.
因下大雨，我们不得不呆在家里。
5) In view of your departure tomorrow, can you spare me a few moments to talk
over the problem?
鉴于你明天就要离开，你能借我几分钟讨论一下这个问题吗?
6) In view of the recent development, they are advised not take any action for
the time being.
鉴于最近的发展，眼下他们最好不要采取任何行动。
7) Mr. Mark’s lawyer pleaded him not guilty of crime by reason of his
insanity.
马克先生的律师为他作无罪辩护，因为他患有精神错乱症。
8) He put in for his job transferring by reason of not adapting to the present
job.
他提出调动工作的请求，原因是他不适应目前的工作。
9) He was given an important position in the company by virtue of his long
association with the broad.
他凭靠与董事局长期的关系在公司谋得一个重要职位。
10) She is allowed to do as she wishes by virtue of the fact that she is the
manager’s daughter. 她可为所欲为，因为她是经理的女儿。
11) However, as a result of the heavy demand for organs, a new moral dilemma has
emerged.
然而，由于对器官需求量激增产生了新的道德困境。
12) Two people have already died as a result of the accident, and the lives of
several others are in danger.
