“Since” can be an expression of time, and it can mean “because”.
“Since” as a time expression
When used to express time, the word “since” means:
— from a time in the past until the present
— from a time in the past until another time in the past.
1. From a time in the past until the present
Because of its relationship with time “since” must be used with the correct verb tense. Have a look at these examples of a common mistake:
WRONG
He is out of the office since you last phoned.
As you may recall, the Paris office assists us with this project since it started.
Mr Jones is employed by the Company since September 2016.
In these three sentences the writers have made the mistake of using the Present Simple tense (is / assists / is employed) instead of the Present Perfect tense.
RIGHT
He has been out of the office since you last phoned.
As you may recall, the Paris office has assisted us with this project since it started.
Mr Jones has been employed by the Company since September 2016.
Note that these examples follow this pattern:
Present Perfect tense in the main clause and Past tense (or a date in the past) after “since”.
More examples:
No Public Authority or third party has raised any claims or allegations under Clause 4.1 since the Agreement was signed.
Since he joined the firm as a junior associate in 1998, he has become one of the most highly regarded lawyers in his field.
(Since joining… is an alternative structure that may be used in this type of sentence.)
In all sentences of this type you must use the Present Perfect tense in the main clause. However, the rule that you use the Past tense after “since” is flexible. Sometimes we can use the Present Perfect here as well. For example:
The department has been extremely busy since we have had an office in Mumbai.
I’ve been feeling much better since I’ve been taking more exercise.
We use the Past tense after “since” when we refer to a point in time in the past, and we use the Present Perfect after “since” when we refer to a period of time from the past until the present. We could rewrite the above two examples to refer to points in time (and use the Past tense after “since”) as follows:
The department has been extremely busy since we opened an office in Mumbai.
I’ve been feeling much better since I started taking more exercise.
2. From a time in the past until another time in the past
“Since” can also be used to express time from a starting point in the past until an end point in the past. Such sentences may follow this pattern:
Past Perfect tense in the main clause and Past tense after “since”.
We were sorry to lose MaxCo when they ceased operations in Poland in 2016. They had been a client of ours since they entered the country in 2003.
In 2013 I was asked to direct the company’s promotional film. I had not done anything like that since I worked in TV advertising in 1993.
When I arrived I realised that they had been in the meeting since 9 am.
It is also possible to use the pattern Past Perfect tense in the main clause and Past Perfect tense after “since”. For example:
It had been 20 years since I had directed any kind of film.
3. “Ever since”
You can add stress to “since” by adding “ever”.
Our two senior partners have known each other ever since they were at primary school.
He moved to London in 1994 and he has been living there ever since.
4. Do NOT use “since” to express present time, future time or general time
Note that in all the above examples, “since” is used to describe past time. When used to express time, “since” can ONLY be used in this way.
WRONG
Present
We want the office to start operating since now, or by the end of June at the latest.
Future
I’ll be in the bar since 7 o’clock this evening.
General time
The licence-granting procedure should not take longer than 90 days since the submission of the application.
Instead use “from”:
RIGHT
Present
We want the office to start operating from now, or by the end of June at the latest.
Future
I’ll be in the bar from 7 o’clock this evening.
General time
The licence-granting procedure should not take longer than 90 days from the submission of the application.
5. Do NOT use “since” to express duration
WRONG
The Landlord may terminate the Agreement with immediate effect if the Tenant is in arrears with payments since three months.
Although we would usually expect a decision within six weeks of making an application, the Claimant has now been waiting since ten weeks.
Instead use “for”:
RIGHT
The Landlord may terminate the Agreement with immediate effect if the Tenant is in arrears with payments for three months.
Although we would usually expect a decision within six weeks of making an application, the Claimant has now been waiting for ten weeks.
Another common mistake
WRONG
He worked at Microsoft since 2003 to 2006.
RIGHT
He worked at Microsoft from 2003 to 2006.
Do not use “since” with “to”. Use “from” and “to” or “from” and “until”. Another example:
He worked at the company from the moment he qualified until his retirement.
WRONG
According to the statement, no accidents at work or on the way to or from work have occurred since 2006 until now.
RIGHT
According to the statement, no accidents at work or on the way to or from work have occurred since 2006.
Because “since” — and the Present Perfect tense — incorporate “until now” into their meanings, including “until now” in the above sentence is not necessary.
“Since” meaning “because”
We do not recommend the course of action you propose since there is a risk that the employee will refer the matter to court.
This usage of “since” is rather formal, and may be ambiguous in some sentences because “since” is more commonly used to express time. Consider this example:
We have analysed the tax aspects of the transaction since we were instructed to do so.
This could mean “We have analysed the tax aspects because we were instructed to do so” or “We have been analysing the tax aspects from the time we were instructed to do so”.
As a result, I recommend using “because” or “as” instead of “since”.
Correct Usage of The Adverb SINCE :
SINCE
This word is used as….
(a) An Adverb of Time
(b) A Conjunction of Time
(c) A Preposition of Time
(a) As an Adverb of Time, it has two meanings.
(i) From then (from some time in the past up to now).
1. I first read it ten years ago and have remembered it ever since.
2. It has pained me in frosty weather ever since.
SINCE with this meaning qualifies a Verb in the Present Perfect and sometimes, as in Indirect Speech, a Verb in the Past Perfect Tense. It is often strengthened with the Adverb EVER and usually follows the Verb it qualifies.
(ii) At or during some time between then and now.
1. He told me last week and has spoken of it several times since.
2. He told me that he had never done so since.
3. I was at school with him but have seen him only twice since.
Here again SINCE usually follows a Verb in the Present Perfect or the Past Perfect Tense.
(b) As a Conjunction it signifies from which time and its use is limited by three conditions.
(1) It is followed by a Verb in the Past Simple Tense.
(2) It is preceded by a Verb in the Present Simple or Present Perfect Tense.
(3) It is preceded by a Noun or phrase denoting some period of time, never by a Noun denoting a point of time.
1. It is now a week since the school broke up. (Correct)
1. Two years passed since my father died. (Incorrect)
2. Two years have passed since my father died. (Correct)
1. It was a week since the holidays began. (Incorrect)
2. It is a week since the holidays began. (Correct)
1. A month has passed since I am coming here. (Incorrect)
2. A month has passed since I came here. (Correct)
1. Two hours have elapsed since he had fallen asleep. (Incorrect)
2. Two hours have elapsed since he fell asleep. (Correct)
SINCE is also a Conjunction of cause or reason.
Since you have finished your work, you may go.
(c) As a Preposition it signifies from and its use is limited by two conditions.
(1) It is placed before a Noun or phrase denoting some point of time, never before a
Noun or phrase denoting a period of time.
(2) It is preceded by a Verb in the Present or Past Perfect Tense.
1. He said that the school had been closed since last Monday.
2. It has been raining since yesterday.
3. Since last month the weather has improved.
4. My father died since last Thursday. (Incorrect)
5. My father has been dead since last Thursday. (Correct)
1. The school was closed since yesterday. (Incorrect)
2. The school has been closed since yesterday. (Correct)
1. My father has been ill since three weeks. (Incorrect)
2. My father has been ill for the last three weeks. (Correct)
1. The results have been known since two days. (Incorrect)
2. The results have been known for the last two days. (Correct)
RELATED PAGES :
- Correct Usage of Nouns
- Correct Usage of Pronouns
- Correct Usage of Verbs
- Correct Usage of Adverbs
- Correct Usage of The Conjunctions
- Correct Usage of The Adverbs — MUCH and VERY
- Correct Usage of The Adverbs — LITTLE and A LITTLE
- Correct Usage of The Adverbs — YES and NO
- Correct Usage of The Adverb — ONLY
- Correct Usage of The Adverb — TOO
- Correct Usage of The Adverb — ENOUGH
- Correct Usage of The Adverb — AGO
- Correct Usage of The Adverb — BEFORE
- Correct Usage of The Adverb — ALREADY
- Correct Usage of The Adverb — THERE
- Correct Usage of The Adverb — ELSE
- Correct Usage of The Adverb — NEVER
- Correct Usage of The Adverb — QUITE
- Correct Usage of AT and IN
- Correct Usage of WITH and BY
- Correct Usage of BETWEEN and AMONG
- Correct Usage of BESIDE and BESIDES
- Correct Usage of IN and INTO
- Correct Usage of IN and WITHIN
- Correct Usage of SINCE and FROM
Correct Usage of The Adverb SINCE :
Correct Usage of The Adverb SINCE To HOME PAGE
The Sentences Index
No, this is not correct. Since is employed to designate a timespan running from a definite† point in time up to the current ‘Reference Time’, whatever that may be:
Bob has lived here since 1992. … The timespan runs from 1987 to the present.
In 1874 Wagner completed Der Ring des Nibelungen, which he had been working on since 1848. … The timespan runs from 1848 to 1874.
If you want to define the timespan by its duration you should use for:
Bob has lived here for twenty-two years.
Wagner worked on the Ring for twenty-six years.
Mosquitoes have survived on Earth for millions of years.
† This does not mean that the point must be defined with great precision. For instance, “Since the first millennium BCE” is acceptable.
The word since, when used as a conjunction, has two meanings, one related to time and the
other to cause. Since can be correctly used in either sense—the choice is a matter of style.
However, if it is not used carefully, the word since can also cause confusion. Sometimes, because
is the better choice.
This word usage tip examines when—and when not—to use the word since.
Examples
since (conjunction): from the time in the past when
Example
He had wanted to be a biologist since he was 12 years old.
since (conjunction): because
Example
Since the data were incomplete, the paper could not be published.
In the second example above, since clearly means «because.» Be aware, however, that the word
since can be ambiguous, leaving the reader to sort out whether it means «from the time when» or «because.»
In the example below, we understand that the study could not be performed, but has that happened from the
time when the equipment malfunctioned (ie, for a period of time)? Or has it happened because the equipment
malfunctioned (no time specified)?
Example
The study could not be performed since the equipment malfunctioned.
Correction
The study could not be performed because the equipment malfunctioned.
Quick Tips: Since vs Because
- If there is any chance that the reader could think that the word since refers to time when it in
fact refers to cause, then use the word because. - Some style guides prefer that writers use the word since to refer only to time.
Sources
Iverson C, Christiansen S, Flanagin A, et al. AMA Manual of Style:
A Guide for Authors and Editors. 10th ed. New York, NY: Oxford University Press; 2007.
Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary. 11th ed. Springfield, MA: Merriam-Webster, Inc.; 2007.
Do you have a question or comment about this tip? Simply
contact me online and I’ll be pleased to help.
When starting a sentence with the word «since», add a comma after the first clause (group of words containing a subject and a verb).
When starting a sentence with the word «since«, add a comma after the first clause (group of words containing a subject and a verb).
Since Mary is a doctor, she can prescribe drugs.
Since Mary is a doctor she can prescribe drugs.
We do not generally need a comma before «since» in mid-sentence.
I should skip dessert since I’m trying to lose weight.
I’ve been studying German since 2020.
Contents
- 1. How to Use Since in a Sentence
- 2. Commas in the Middle of a sentence
- 3. Starting a Sentence with ‘Since’
- 4. References
1. How to Use ‘Since’ in a Sentence
«Since» can be:
- A preposition to refer to a time in the past. Prepositions are followed by a noun or a pronoun (e.g., «I’ve been married since 2015.»)
- A subordinating conjunction to explain the reason for something (e.g., «My brother can achieve it since he has experience.»), or to indicate a period from a time in the past («I’ve been doing this since I arrived here.») Note that subordinating conjunctions, unlike prepositions, are followed by a subject and a verb.
- An adverb to mean «ago» or between then and now (e.g., «She went to the mall this morning, and I haven’t seen her since.»)
2. Commas in the Middle of a sentence
In the middle of a sentence, we do not commonly use a comma in front of «since«.
I’d like to travel to Japan since its culture is truly unique.
It’s been raining since yesterday.
Albert has lived in Rome since 2015.
Isabella has been looking for a job since she left school.
I wonder where my niece is. I haven’t seen her since Tuesday.
There are particular situations, however, where commas may be required. For example, use commas to set apart non-essential information.(1)
Alice is planning to return to Madrid, maybe next month, since she has developed an emotional attachment to the Spanish culture.
I love her, despite our relationship stumbles, since she has been respectful and patient.
The Spanish government debt, already high since the financial crisis, exploded during the 2020 debacle.
3. Starting a Sentence with ‘Since’
As mentioned before, we can use «since» to introduce a group of words containing a subject and a verb (clause).
Since my sister is an excellent cook, she prepared a delicious meal.
In this situation, if the clause introduced by «since» comes at the beginning of a sentence, we must add a comma after the first clause.
Since I want to learn a new language, I registered for a Chinese course.
Since I want to learn a new language I registered for a Chinese course.
More examples:
Since they’re going to arrive next week, we have plenty of time to prepare for the meeting.
Since copper is still the material of choice for electric power, the demand of copper is growing by leaps and bounds.
Since the current situation seems a perfect setup for yield curve control, the European Central Bank will probably implement this policy next year.
Instead of introducing a clause, you can use «since» to introduce a noun phrase. Phrases, unlike clauses, do not contain a subject and a verb.
Since 1980 the US GDP has been declining.
The comma after short introductory phrases like these can be easily omitted if the sentence is clear.(2)
Since then I have been learning marketing.
Since 2018 Rebecca has been working here.
4. References
(1) Strunk JR., William; White, E.B. The Elements of Style. Chapter 1 — Elementary Rules of Usage.
(2) Kaufman, Lester; Straus, Jane. The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation. Chapter 2 (punctuation).
