Avoiding #em#is when, is where#/em#, and #em#reason . . . is because#/em#

In formal English, many readers object to is when, is where, and reason . . . is because constructions on either logical or grammatical grounds.

Example sentence with editing. Original sentence: Anorexia nervosa is where people diet to the point of starvation. Revised sentence: Anorexia nervosa is a disorder suffered by people who diet to the point of starvation.

Anorexia nervosa is a disorder, not a place.

Example sentence with editing. Original sentence: The reason I was late is because my motorcycle broke down. Revised sentence: I was late because my motorcycle broke down.

The writer might have replaced the word because with that, but the preceding revision is more concise.

Exercise: Mixed constructions 1

Exercise: Mixed constructions 2

Exercise: Mixed constructions 3

Exercise: Mixed constructions 4