■thanks to
thanks to “由于或因为某人（某事）”，通常用于好的方面，多用于表达正面意思，相当于感谢，有时可作“反语”。在句中作状语和表语。引导的介词短语可置于句首或句末。
The play succeeded thanks to your timely help. 由于你的及时帮助，那出戏才成功。（作状语）
Thanks to your help, we were successful. 多亏了你的帮助，我们得以成功。（作状语）
Thanks to the bad weather ,the match had been cancelled. 多亏这个倒霉天气，挺好的比赛取消了。（反语）
It’s thanks to this opportunity that his talent wasn’t buried. 幸亏这次机会,才使得他的才华不至于埋没。（作表语）
注意：small thanks to 一点也不感激
We were successful, but small thanks to you. 我们成功了，但一点也不感激你。
■as a result of
as a result of为短语介词，后跟名词、代词等，意为“由于……的原因”相当于because of，可置于句首或句末； as a result为副词用法，意为 “因此，结果” ,在句中需用逗号停顿。如：
The train was delayed as a result of the heavy rain. 由于大雨的缘故，火车晚点了。
He got up very late today. As a result, he missed the first bus. 他今天起晚了，结果没赶上头班车。
注意：in consequence of 与as a result of 同义，“由于……的缘故”，in consequence 与as a result 同义，“因此，结果”，在句中需用逗号停顿。如：
The flight was delayed in consequence of fog. 因为雾该航班误点。
= It was foggy, and as a result (in consequence), the flight was delayed.