"Because + noun" : a new usage [duplicate]

Solution 1:

Well, here's an article in The Atlantic from as far back as 2013. It suggested that this use of "because" as a preposition had already become common even then. https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2013/11/english-has-a-new-preposition-because-internet/281601/

At the same time, the Cambridge Dictionary acknowledges the prepositional use of the word "because" only when it's accompanied by "of". https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/grammar/british-grammar/because-because-of-and-cos-cos-of. The same goes for Merriam-Webster: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/because#learn-more.

I have to admit that I haven't heard "because" used this way. I may have seen it in texts or short emails and not noticed it, because I expect people to be sloppy when they are typing on their phones and in a rush. But if someone had used it in a conversation, I would have noticed.

It may be frequently used now, but as a native speaker, it sounds jarring to me. The Atlantic article's author, Megan Garber, approves of the development, as do the various writers she quotes. The main reasons seem to be economy of words and the slight ironic tinge that the usage conveys, because it hints that the speaker is subtly making fun of "textbook" grammar.

If you prefer sticking to "textbook" English, you won't want to use the expression. On the other hand, if you enjoy "commonly used" constructions that are evolving, then this one seems to be in that category. You might, however, want to avoid it in formal conversations or documents.