What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
due
Example
The report is due next Monday. [due: adjective]
Example
The rent is due on the first of every month. [due: preposition]
Example
She received a promotion due to her hard work. [due: conjunction]
owed
Example
I still owe you $20 from last week. [owe: verb]
Example
As a citizen, we owe it to our country to vote. [owe: verb]
Example
He felt owed a promotion after working for the company for five years. [owed: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Due is more commonly used than owed in formal contexts, such as business or legal documents. However, owed is more commonly used in everyday language to describe debts or obligations.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between due and owed?
Due is considered more formal than owed. While due can be used in both formal and informal contexts, owed is more commonly used in casual or everyday language.
