Question

The candidate’s success in the race to win the endorsement of the Democratic Party is owing to his support for citizenship rights for illegal immigrants. A. is owing to B. is because C. is due to D. seeing that E. as a result of

Short answer

C

Step-by-step solution

Understand the Sentence

Identify the key components of the sentence: subject (candidate’s success), verb (is), and the reason for success (his support for citizenship rights for illegal immigrants).

Evaluate Each Option

Look at each option to see if it grammatically fits into the sentence and makes logical sense.

Analyze Option A - 'is owing to'

Option A uses the phrase 'is owing to'. This phrase is not commonly used in standard English and is considered awkward or incorrect.

Analyze Option B - 'is because'

Option B uses the phrase 'is because', which is also grammatically incorrect. The verb 'is' should not be followed directly by 'because'.

Analyze Option C - 'is due to'

Option C uses the phrase 'is due to'. This phrase is grammatically correct and means 'caused by'.

Analyze Option D - 'seeing that'

Option D uses 'seeing that'. This phrase is conversational and not appropriate for formal writing in this context.

Analyze Option E - 'as a result of'

Option E uses 'as a result of'. This phrase is grammatically correct and makes sense in the context, but it is more verbose than 'due to'.

Choose the Best Option

Option C 'is due to' is the best choice because it is grammatically correct, concise, and appropriately formal for this context.

Key concepts

Grammar Rules

Understanding grammar rules is essential for correctly answering GMAT sentence correction questions. In this exercise, the candidate's success is attributed to a particular cause. Let's break down the correct and incorrect grammar points for each option given.

Option A 'is owing to' is grammatically incorrect. Native English speakers rarely use 'is owing to'. It sounds awkward because 'is owing to' is not a standard English construction.

Option B 'is because' combines a linking verb 'is' with 'because', which is incorrect. The correct construction would need to rephrase the sentence to avoid this structure.

Option C 'is due to' adheres to the standard grammar rule and means 'caused by'. This phrase fits well into the sentence.

Option D 'seeing that' is more conversational and informal. It is not suitable for formal writing or GMAT questions.

Option E 'as a result of' is grammatically acceptable but a bit wordy. It could be used in the sentence, but 'due to' is preferred for conciseness.

Recognizing these subtle differences helps you eliminate incorrect options and choose the most suitable, grammatically correct one.

Sentence Structure

Proper sentence structure ensures clarity and coherence. The exercise sentence includes a subject 'the candidate’s success' and a verb 'is' linked to the reason 'his support for citizenship rights for illegal immigrants'.

Understanding how different phrases can be used in a sentence structure helps in selecting the grammatically correct option.

Option A 'is owing to' disrupts the standard flow and is jarring to read.

Option B 'is because' creates a structural problem since 'is' does not typically precede 'because'.

Option C 'is due to' maintains a clear and direct sentence structure. The phrase is succinct and logically connects the reason to the subject's action.

Option D 'seeing that' is informal and disrupts the formal writing's smooth structure.

Option E 'as a result of' is grammatically correct but adds unnecessary words, slightly muddying the sentence flow.

Therefore, 'is due to' (Option C) creates a clear, concise, and coherent sentence structure that is easy for the reader to follow.

Formal Writing

Formal writing is crucial in academic and professional settings, such as in GMAT sentence correction exercises. Each word and phrase choice should reflect precision and propriety.

In the exercise sentence, the formal tone needs to be maintained while explaining the candidate's success.

Option A 'is owing to' sounds awkward and is not commonly used in formal writing.

Option B 'is because' is not appropriately formal due to its incorrect grammatical structure.

Option C 'is due to' uses a concise, direct, and appropriately formal phrase, making it the best fit.

Option D 'seeing that' is conversational and not suitable for the formal tone required.

Option E 'as a result of' is formal and correct but less concise than 'is due to'.

'Is due to' strikes the right balance between being formal, grammatically correct, and concise, making it the prime choice for this sentence. Mastery of these elements enhances clarity and effectiveness in formal writing.