In emails and news reports, you’ve likely come across this phrase “in light of.” You may have also tried using it, and used it wrongly because you didn’t understand its meaning.
Not to worry, in this guide, we’ll help you connect the dots.
Generally, people reach for this phrase when explaining a change of heart or a shift in plans. So, in light of something, a change in plans has occurred.
Keep reading, and we’ll show you more examples that make it click.
Let’s dive in.
Key Takeaways
- “In light of” is an idiom that shows that there are new circumstances and information that will likely influence a previous decision you made. As a result, there will be a new course of action.
- The expression is mostly found in formal contexts, until it seeped into common usage.
- A good in light of synonym you can use includes either “considering,” or “because of.”
What Does In Light Of Mean?
“In light of” is a prepositional phrase you use when a specific factor influences a decision. This expression introduces the specific reason behind changing a previous decision and what actions follow.
For example, you say to your friend group, “In light of the weather forecast, we’re canceling the picnic.” You’re using the weather forecast as the prime reason that you cancelled the picnic.
The phrase helps connect the situation to the outcome in a logical way.
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What makes “in light of” useful is the sense of intention behind it. It shows that your choice did not happen at random. You weighed relevant details and let those details guide your response.
This quality makes the phrase common in professional writing, but it still works well in everyday speech.
You can also use it for both good and bad situations. Your manager might say this to you to explain a recent promotion: “In light of your excellent performance, we’ve decided to promote you.”
On the other hand, your client could justify a delay with, “In light of budget constraints, we’re postponing the project.”
Origin and Context
The phrase “in light of” has existed for a long time, even though its exact origin is unclear. This expression comes from the old idea of light representing ‘understanding’ in English.
For instance, when information comes to light, people become aware of it, and when we shed light on something, it becomes clearer.
“In light of” likely developed from this way of thinking, with light standing in for knowledge or insight.
By the 1800s, writers used it often, especially in legal documents and academic writing. These were situations where people had to explain why they changed their decisions after new facts affected them.
What stands out is how well the phrase has held up, even as the English Language has continued to provide new ones. “In light of” keeps getting used in both professional and everyday settings.
It endures because it captures how circumstances influence our choices or understanding, and it does so with a bit more polish than just saying “because.”
When to Use In Light Of
This phrase works in plenty of situations, but it lands best when you want people to really notice the reason behind what you’re saying.
Formal Writing
“In light of” is an expression that fits right into any formal writing. It adds polish to your writing without it coming off as if you are doing too much.
Academic writers, for example, use “in light of” to tie research findings to their conclusions. An example is: “In light of recent results, we can conclude that the hypothesis was unsupported.” It positions the findings as evidence that clarifies things.
Meanwhile, journalists lean on it too. It helps them show cause and effect while keeping that neutral, professional tone intact.
Everyday Speech
We don’t tend to see people use “in light of” in everyday speech as it leans a bit toward the formal side. This is due to the fact that people use simpler alternatives in conversations.
Regardless, you can absolutely use it in your casual conversations without reservation. An example such as “In light of how exhausted we both are, we should just skip the movie tonight” will be accepted by your friend.
Although this example seems like it could have been sent as a business letter, it nevertheless communicates your idea simply.
Plus, when you change your decision, this phrase tells the other person that you actually thought things through rather than just making a hasty decision.
Similar Phrases and Alternatives
The English Language gives you a bunch of alternatives to say “in light of.” You might not know them yet, so these are the ones that come up most:
- Considering: This option works quite identically and also sounds less formal. “Considering the failed upscaling last year, I believe we made the right choice in getting new investors.”
- Given: This is another identical option that’s concise and works in both formal and casual contexts. For example, “Given the high emotions after the match, we cancelled the meeting.”
- Because of: This alternative expression is what we tend to hear everyone use in their day-to-day casual speech. E.g., “Because of the road traffic, we missed the train to the party.”
- Due to: This has a similar formality gravity to the expression “in light of.” For instance, “Due to technical difficulties affecting our servers, the broadcast was interrupted.”
- Taking into Account or Taking into Consideration: These are longer, but they work when you want to show you’ve really thought things through. As seen in “Taking into account all your feedback, we’ve revised our approach.”
- In view of: This is another great and equally formal option that’s identical to “in light of.” You can use them interchangeably in most contexts.
- Owing to: This synonym is a formal option that can be substituted for “in light of.” Example, “Owing to unforeseen circumstances with the new powerplant, the event has been postponed.”
You can use any of these alternatives in any given context of your choice, while writing or speaking so long as they meet your needs.
Despite this, if in any case you still feel lost on using the right expression, then our AI Chat can be incredibly helpful to you. It’ll suggest whether “in light of” fits your content or if you would need a better alternative.
Grammar Tips for In Light Of
Before you jump right into using “in light of,” you should be careful not to fall into some embarrassing grammatical potholes.
For you to avoid this and use it correctly, follow these guidelines:
- The Expression is “Light,” not “Lights”: This grammatical mistake is the most common amongst new users of the expression. They tend to make this mistake because they don’t realize the expression does not change for plurality. The expression is only acceptable in the singular form. This won’t change even when you’re discussing many factors.
- It functions as a Preposition: Prepositions are used to mostly introduce nouns. Due to that, what must follow after the expression will either be a noun or a noun phrase. Anything else is a grammatical error. For example, you wouldn’t say “in light of we should leave.” There’s something missing. Instead, you’d say “in light of the situation, we should leave.”
- Placement Matters: You have to put “in light of” at the beginning of your sentence. This will set up the explanation that follows. You can occasionally place this phrase in the middle of your sentence. Yet, it usually works better at the beginning.
- Add a Comma After the Expression: You must add a comma after you use the phrase at the beginning of your sentence. The comma is necessary to separate the introductory element from the main clause. For instance, “In light of your recent feedback, I’ve made revisions to the manuscript.”
- Don’t Overuse it: Like any distinctive phrase, you mustn’t overuse it in your work. “In light of” can become repetitive if you lean on it too heavily in your work. So, you have to vary your expressions to keep your writing fresh and readable.
- Make Sure the Logic is Clear: The phrase has to introduce information that genuinely relates to what follows. “In light of the sunny weather, the project failed” doesn’t make logical sense unless you explain the connection.
How to Use In Light Of Effectively
You can use “in light of” well when you understand the strategic impact of the phrase to deploy it effectively:
- Emphasize Reconsideration: This is the primary feature of the expression “in light of.” So, when you’re using it, it signals to others that you are reconsidering the present situation of things which has now led to a different action.
- Consider Your Audience and Purpose: Using “in light of” could sound oddly distant for your personal blog post or when you’re texting a friend, since it’s often used in formal situations. However, recent usage of the expression now allows you to use it in any situation to sound thoughtful.
- For Cause-and-Effect Relationship: You have to make sure that when you use “in light of,” it creates an obvious connection between the circumstance and the outcome, whereby your readers can immediately understand why the information you’re introducing matters.
- Consider Alternatives: You can also use an in light of synonym to keep things fresh when you find yourself using “in light of” too much. This will effectively show you have a great command of different expressions.
- Front-load Important Information: As “in light of” often appears at the start of sentences, you can use this as a setup to present key information at the start of a sentence or paragraph.
- Be Specific About what you’re Referencing: Vague uses like “in light of everything” or “in light of the situation” can feel empty. Whenever possible, name the specific circumstances. “In light of the stock market crash” and “in light of recent customer feedback” give your readers concrete information.
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FAQs
Is “In Light Of” Formal or Informal?
It is both formal and informal and therefore can be used in any context freely. That aside, it’s important to note that the phrase is mostly applied in professional and formal contexts. In any case, it’s acceptable to use it in casual contexts.
What’s the Difference Between “In Light Of” and “In Lieu Of”?
These two terms are always confused with one another as they are similar in sound and appearance. Yet, they’re very different.
In light of means that due to new information things will likely change. For example: “In light of the rain, we canceled the picnic.” (They changed their minds due to the rain.)
In lieu of means using something else instead of another one. For instance, “In lieu of a gift, please donate to charity.” (Do this instead of that)
Can I say “In Lights Of” with an ‘s’?
You must not use an “s” in the expression “in light of.” The expression is an idiom that does not assume any alterations in relation to numbers. Even when you have ten different reasons to say, the phrase will still be in light of.
Is “In Light Of” the Same as “Due to”?
Yes, and they’re interchangeable in most contexts. For example, “Due to the weather…” or “In light of the weather…”
However, the main difference is that ‘due to’ points directly at a cause. Meanwhile, in light of suggests there’s new information changing your actions.
Final Thoughts
You can confidently use the phrase once you understand the in light of meaning.
Next time you’re caught in a situation that requires you to change your plans, you’ll be able to do so in a conversation with your friends or in an email to your manager clarifying what influenced your decision.
However, if you still need help with your work and to use the expression naturally, then look no further than Undetectable AI tools to help smooth out and improve your writing.