"As" instead of "because"

[Tara007]

I turned in an essay when it was due, and I recently got it back with a lower grade than I expected. One sentence I wrote in my essay was "many people died of influenza because there was no penicillin in 1918". With a red pen, my teacher marked through the word "because" and wrote "as" above it, and deducted two points for it. After class, I asked my teacher why she did that, and she told me that the English language is changing, and that the word "because" is being phased out in favor of the word "as". What do you think about this?

"Many people died of influenza because there was no penicillin in 1918"
"Many people died of influenza as there was no penicillin in 1918"

Which of the above were you taught was correct?

[SkiIucK]

If I were you, I'd have laughed at her face.
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If you find any typographical or grammatical errors in my post, please let me know.

[Alan]

Hi Tara,

It seems quite harsh to me that two points were deducted for the use of one word. I agree with your teacher that English is changing as do all living languages but to suggest that 'because' is being phased out is news to me. 'As' of course is used in many ways with different functions but 'because' in the sense of 'the reason for' is alive and kicking and I would suggest that it in fact fits better into your sentence. 'As' in a causative sense could also be used in your sentence but I feel it doesn't have quite the same force. Perhaps you should ask your teacher to explain where this notion that 'because' is being 'phased out' comes from.

Alan
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English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story Have a Break!

[SkiIucK]

"Since" and "for" would fit nicely there, too, in my opinion. Let's hear what the native speakers have to say about it.
_________________
If you find any typographical or grammatical errors in my post, please let me know.