Les Posted February 17, 2017 Report Posted February 17, 2017 I have the pleasure of reading several inspections reports each month. After reading a few, I have picked up a few pet peeves regarding boiler plate. I notice the rampant use of "due to" when it should read "because" or "because of". I googled correct use of the phrase "due to" and got the following from Editing Exchange that I thought was quite good. "Often, "because" or "because of" should be used instead. If you could substitute "attributable to", "caused by" or "resulting from" for "due to" in your sentence, then you probable used "due to" correctly. It modifies nouns and is usually preceded by the verb "to be" in one form or another." www.editex.com/correct-use-of-the-phrase-due-to/. I learned that my frustration with the phrase is often baseless. How many of you use the phrase " Due to xxxxx"?
Jim Baird Posted February 17, 2017 Report Posted February 17, 2017 Guilty as charged, I searched three reports and found five uses, but all of which, I think pass muster. The best thing about the phrase is its brevity. Distribution of receptacles was not easy to tell due to the large amount of furniture and personal belongs in the rooms. I did not operate the cooling side due to ambient temperature. My crawl traverse found some damaged insulation. Much of duct length did not or only barely cleared ground, due to height limits in crawl. Some joists look original, some are newer due to repairs through time. Some decking on both sides of the chimney column is rotted due to flashing leaks.
Les Posted February 17, 2017 Author Report Posted February 17, 2017 "? window operation could be a safety hazard due to the lower pane having a strong spring action that prevents window from staying open preventing easy exit in an emergency. Recommend review by installer or a qualified contractor." this is an example of an entry that I find frustrating. Could be correct, but still seems lazy reporting.
Marc Posted February 17, 2017 Report Posted February 17, 2017 Guilty as charged, I searched three reports and found five uses, but all of which, I think pass muster. The best thing about the phrase is its brevity. Distribution of receptacles was not easy to tell due to the large amount of furniture and personal belongs in the rooms. I did not operate the cooling side due to ambient temperature. My crawl traverse found some damaged insulation. Much of duct length did not or only barely cleared ground, due to height limits in crawl. Some joists look original, some are newer due to repairs through time. Some decking on both sides of the chimney column is rotted due to flashing leaks. All wrong uses of 'due to', I think. No noun to modify, no form of 'to be' (immediately) preceding the phase. Marc
Jim Baird Posted February 17, 2017 Report Posted February 17, 2017 "? window operation could be a safety hazard due to the lower pane having a strong spring action that prevents window from staying open preventing easy exit in an emergency. Recommend review by installer or a qualified contractor." this is an example of an entry that I find frustrating. Could be correct, but still seems lazy reporting. What throws me on this entry is substitution of the word "pane" for "sash". I'm not going to google it but I think pane refers to the glass and sash to the assembled window part that is often spring loaded. I am used to seeing springs hold windows open, not shut. Most of my uses, Marc, are preceded by conjugated forms of the be verb, though not immediately.
John Kogel Posted February 17, 2017 Report Posted February 17, 2017 Does anybody care if you conjugated your verb last night? [8D] Language changes with use, and the trend is say it quick or they won't even read it.
Steven Hockstein Posted February 17, 2017 Report Posted February 17, 2017 "Your Honor, due to the fact that I used the words "Due To" improperly in my report I am now defending myself due to the wacky legal system that allows people to sue for just about anything."
Jim Baird Posted February 17, 2017 Report Posted February 17, 2017 Does anybody care if you conjugated your verb last night? [8D] Language changes with use, and the trend is say it quick or they won't even read it. I engage in regular conjugal visits with every verb held captive in the dungeon of my mind.
Les Posted February 17, 2017 Author Report Posted February 17, 2017 I am going to really miss this high minded crowd due to my vacation.
Nolan Kienitz Posted February 18, 2017 Report Posted February 18, 2017 I am going to really miss this high minded crowd due to my vacation. Les, You vacation is "due to" what exactly??? [^]
Jim Katen Posted February 18, 2017 Report Posted February 18, 2017 . . . I learned that my frustration with the phrase is often baseless. How many of you use the phrase " Due to xxxxx"? Interesting question. My last 20 reports don't contain a single instance of "due to." Not surprising since I avoid passive voice and "due to" is a passive voice enabler.
Jim Katen Posted February 18, 2017 Report Posted February 18, 2017 Guilty as charged, I searched three reports and found five uses, but all of which, I think pass muster. The best thing about the phrase is its brevity. Distribution of receptacles was not easy to tell due to the large amount of furniture and personal belongs in the rooms. I did not operate the cooling side due to ambient temperature. My crawl traverse found some damaged insulation. Much of duct length did not or only barely cleared ground, due to height limits in crawl. Some joists look original, some are newer due to repairs through time. Some decking on both sides of the chimney column is rotted due to flashing leaks. All are wrong. Simple rule: if you can substitute "because of" then "due to" is wrong.
Jim Katen Posted February 18, 2017 Report Posted February 18, 2017 "? window operation could be a safety hazard due to the lower pane having a strong spring action that prevents window from staying open preventing easy exit in an emergency. Recommend review by installer or a qualified contractor." this is an example of an entry that I find frustrating. Could be correct, but still seems lazy reporting. It's not frustrating, it's wretched. How about, "The window won't stay open. Have it fixed."
Nolan Kienitz Posted February 18, 2017 Report Posted February 18, 2017 Finding: "Door doesn't latch" Report Comment: "Adjust Strikeplate"
Jim Baird Posted February 18, 2017 Report Posted February 18, 2017 Guilty as charged, I searched three reports and found five uses, but all of which, I think pass muster. The best thing about the phrase is its brevity. Distribution of receptacles was not easy to tell due to the large amount of furniture and personal belongs in the rooms. I did not operate the cooling side due to ambient temperature. My crawl traverse found some damaged insulation. Much of duct length did not or only barely cleared ground, due to height limits in crawl. Some joists look original, some are newer due to repairs through time. Some decking on both sides of the chimney column is rotted due to flashing leaks. All are wrong. Simple rule: if you can substitute "because of" then "due to" is wrong. Except that "due to" is shorter, so in my book it wins.
Tom Raymond Posted February 18, 2017 Report Posted February 18, 2017 Nolan, you left out the most important part. Who: licensed door knob.
Jim Baird Posted February 18, 2017 Report Posted February 18, 2017 My final comment on this thread, after checking out Les' source is that an inspection report is not an academic paper. For an enlightening take on academic paperwork in general, check Matthew B. Crawford's "Shop Class as Soulcraft", a book the author wrote about his departure from academia after a doctorate and a couple of jobs adrift on the big abstract ocean of academic life, after which he opened a motorcycle repair shop.
Jim Katen Posted February 18, 2017 Report Posted February 18, 2017 Guilty as charged, I searched three reports and found five uses, but all of which, I think pass muster. The best thing about the phrase is its brevity. Distribution of receptacles was not easy to tell due to the large amount of furniture and personal belongs in the rooms. I did not operate the cooling side due to ambient temperature. My crawl traverse found some damaged insulation. Much of duct length did not or only barely cleared ground, due to height limits in crawl. Some joists look original, some are newer due to repairs through time. Some decking on both sides of the chimney column is rotted due to flashing leaks. All are wrong. Simple rule: if you can substitute "because of" then "due to" is wrong. Except that "due to" is shorter, so in my book it wins. If your goal is shorter, then you've been pinching pennies while wasting dollars. Consider: Distribution of receptacles was not easy to tell due to the large amount of furniture and personal belongs in the rooms. * Furniture and personal belongings limited access to the receptacles. I did not operate the cooling side due to ambient temperature. * It's too cold out to run the air conditioner. My crawl traverse found some damaged insulation. Much of duct length did not or only barely cleared ground, due to height limits in crawl. * Some of the crawlspace insulation is damaged. Low clearance forces the ducts to touch the ground. Some joists look original, some are newer due to repairs through time. * Some joists are original while others are newer. Some decking on both sides of the chimney column is rotted due to flashing leaks. * Flashing leaks have rotted the decking around the chimney. Using good grammar *does not* mean sounding like an academic. Quite the opposite, especially if you limit passive voice.
Erby Posted February 18, 2017 Report Posted February 18, 2017 Perhaps the client will understand this, due to its brevity. "The damn thing is broke. Have it fixed."
Jim Katen Posted February 18, 2017 Report Posted February 18, 2017 Perhaps the client will understand this, due to its brevity. "The damn thing is broke. Have it fixed." Do you mean to say that the thing has run out of money?
Jim Baird Posted February 19, 2017 Report Posted February 19, 2017 I'll gladly let you be my editor, Jim, but you have to do it "pro bono", and you have to do it in no time. Guilty as charged, I searched three reports and found five uses, but all of which, I think pass muster. The best thing about the phrase is its brevity. Distribution of receptacles was not easy to tell due to the large amount of furniture and personal belongs in the rooms. I did not operate the cooling side due to ambient temperature. My crawl traverse found some damaged insulation. Much of duct length did not or only barely cleared ground, due to height limits in crawl. Some joists look original, some are newer due to repairs through time. Some decking on both sides of the chimney column is rotted due to flashing leaks. All are wrong. Simple rule: if you can substitute "because of" then "due to" is wrong. Except that "due to" is shorter, so in my book it wins. If your goal is shorter, then you've been pinching pennies while wasting dollars. Consider: Distribution of receptacles was not easy to tell due to the large amount of furniture and personal belongs in the rooms. * Furniture and personal belongings limited access to the receptacles. I did not operate the cooling side due to ambient temperature. * It's too cold out to run the air conditioner. My crawl traverse found some damaged insulation. Much of duct length did not or only barely cleared ground, due to height limits in crawl. * Some of the crawlspace insulation is damaged. Low clearance forces the ducts to touch the ground. Some joists look original, some are newer due to repairs through time. * Some joists are original while others are newer. Some decking on both sides of the chimney column is rotted due to flashing leaks. * Flashing leaks have rotted the decking around the chimney. Using good grammar *does not* mean sounding like an academic. Quite the opposite, especially if you limit passive voice.
Jim Katen Posted February 19, 2017 Report Posted February 19, 2017 I'll gladly let you be my editor, Jim, but you have to do it "pro bono", and you have to do it in no time. Eh? Pro what? I couldn't hear you. Can't quite make out what you're saying. Damn hearing aids. Oh, well, nevermind. . . .
ghentjr Posted February 19, 2017 Report Posted February 19, 2017 Home inspectors have reinvented language since the earliest days of our profession. I think it's because of a need to be thought of as more professional.
Les Posted February 19, 2017 Author Report Posted February 19, 2017 Listen to John G. He has been as consise as practicable due to his age.
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