Question

I am in training for work and we are talking about intructor protocol during a specific week during a class that is taught online.

The question they wrote is as follows:

"It's Week 3 and half of your students are seeking clarification regarding a particular assignment. Part of the confusion may be arising due to inconsistent point allocation to this assignment in the Syllabus vs. the Gradebook. Specifically, they want to know the following:"

There is something about the "may be arising due to . . ." part that is flagging my native speaker brain. I think this is not correct, but I could be wrong.

Can anyone help me?

IceCreamEmpress said:

That's convoluted. A clearer way of writing the sentence might be: One factor leading to the confusion may be the inconsistent point allocations given to this assignment in the Syllabus and the Gradebook. Or perhaps One of the reasons for this confusion may be that the Syllabus and the Gradebook allocate different numbers of points to this assignment.

"Due to" is very often a snag on which sentences tangle up, especially when people are trying to sound official.

Click to expand...

Yes, but what is rule? My background is in theoretical linguistics, descriptive grammar, and English literature so I cannot recall or state what the incorrect rule is efficiently for my co-workers. (I don't know how to describe the rule) I am the only person whose background is in English and they like to challenge me. Also, I am one of two who is Native in English so then like to think I am picking on them when I am not.