Die Zurückweisung des Antrags erfolgte aufgrund

You will mostly see this phrase in written, formal German.

It is the start of a sentence that explains a negative decision.

After the word aufgrund, you must use a noun in the genitive case.

For example, you might say aufgrund fehlender Unterlagen (due to missing documents).

It uses the verb erfolgte, which is a fancy way to say 'happened'.

This structure makes the sentence feel very objective and final.

Use this phrase when writing official emails or formal letters.

It is perfect for business contexts or legal disputes.

If you are a manager, you might use it in a formal rejection.

It is also common in academic writing or insurance claims.

When you want to sound like a professional authority, this is your phrase.

It helps you distance yourself personally from a difficult decision.

Don't use this when your friend asks to borrow five euros.

If you say this to your partner, they might think you're a robot.

Avoid it in casual texts or at a relaxed dinner party.

It is far too stiff for everyday conversations with people you like.

Using it at the bakery would just result in very confused looks.

Keep it strictly for the office or official paperwork.

Germany is famous for its love of rules and paperwork.

This is often called Beamtendeutsch or 'Bureaucratic German'.

It uses many nouns instead of verbs to sound more objective.

This style makes the speaker sound like an impersonal authority figure.

It is a way to distance the person from the decision.

The office isn't saying 'I reject you,' but 'The rejection occurred'.

You can use wegen if you want to sound more human.

Try aufgrund von if you are speaking but still want to be formal.

A simpler version is Der Antrag wurde abgelehnt.

If you want to be extra fancy, use infolge.

Each variation changes the vibe from 'scary letter' to 'normal person'.

Stick to the original phrase for maximum bureaucratic power.