Use of the word therefore in a sentence

The adverb «therefore» can be quite tricky to use in texts. Since it can be used to conjoin two sentences, it often gets misconstrued for a coordinating conjunction – which it is not. So, how and when to use «therefore» in a sentence?

The term «therefore», like «hence» and «thus», is used in texts as an interrupter or to connect two independent clauses. The adverb signifies «something happens due to something else». However, unlike a coordinating conjunction, it needs a semicolon preceding it to adjoin two proper sentences.

There are quite a few things to consider when incorporating «therefore» in sentences. Not adhering to even one of those rules could render a sentence grammatically wrong. Keep reading to learn more about how and when to use «therefore» in texts and everything else.

«Therefore» – Meaning

The adverb «therefore» doesn’t have a proper definition as such. But it roughly means «consequently», «for that reason», «because of that», etc.

Besides the words above, some other terms that «therefore» replaces in texts include:

• As a result
• Hence
• To that end
• Thus
• Thereupon

All of the above words/phrases, like «therefore», introduce a statement caused by, or stemming from, what precedes immediately.

Are «Therefore» and «Therefor» the Same?

Like «therefore», «therefor» is an adverb, but it denotes «for it» or «for that».

Contrary to general perception, «therefor» is not an invalid term or the misspelling of «therefore». But because it’s seldom used in prose, it’s not as familiar as it should or could be. Not to mention, «therefore» and «therefor» cannot be interchangeably used in texts.

Here are a couple of sentences using «therefor» to help you understand the term better and its usage in texts:

• Terrence has had multiple agreements therefor since then.
• Since it’s a quasi-public firm, it should offer its services to everyone that applies therefor.

Incorporating «therefor» in texts can be confusing, thanks to its visual similarity with «therefore». Also, «for it» can seamlessly blend into the sentences above in place of «therefor», which further adds to the perplexity.

Using «Therefore» in Texts

«Therefore» is used in texts to connect two different thoughts that can or cannot be expressed in two individual sentences. Though the word seems to work like a conjunction, it doesn’t belong to the category of terms that «but» and «and» are a part of. It’s essentially an adverb that does conjunctive adverb duties. For example:

• December is the month of festivities; therefore, it’s the period of gifts.

When «therefore» is used to bring together two sentences, a semicolon should always precede it – unlike coordinating conjunctions that use a comma instead. In other words, the following is an incorrect use of «therefore»:

• The new hires were trained in a week, therefore they were put on live projects only after a week.

The above sentence can be corrected by using «and» instead.

• The new hires were trained in a week, and they were put on live projects after a week.

The sentence could keep «therefore» and could be written as either of the following:

• The new hires were trained in a week; therefore, they were put on live projects after a week.
• The new hires were trained in a week. Therefore, they were put on live projects after a week.

The second sentence above also illustrates how «therefore» can be used at the beginning of a sentence.

However, using «therefore» to start a new paragraph is not considered correct or ideal since a section starts afresh and doesn’t usually need a backstory or context. When using «therefore» as the first term in a sentence, you must preface the text.

That said, some writers do use «therefore» to begin a sentence and manage to get away with that.

When used in the middle of a sentence, «therefore» concludes things, or it indicates the reason why a specific point was made. For example:

• He was not happy with the software update situation on his phone. I, therefore, advised him to purchase a new smartphone but not from the same manufacturer.

In the passage above, if the first sentence is taken out, the reader will not understand why the subject is talking about buying a new smartphone. The original sentence offers some much-needed context.

As mentioned above, «therefore» is used in texts as a conjunctive adverb. It’s not a coordinating conjunction like some people wrongly think. Also, unlike «but» and «and», «therefore» and other conjunctive adverbs are not often used in everyday conversations. It’s used mainly in prose.

«Therefore» can be used in the middle of a sentence with or without commas or any form of punctuation. «But» and «and», on the other hand, require a «comma» or «period» before them. But when «but» or another conjunction is not used to join clauses, it doesn’t require punctuation around it. For example:

• I like him, but I do not like his friend.
• I like him but some of his strange habits.

Similar is the tale with «therefore»—more on the usage of commas or punctuations with «therefore» below.

Using Punctuation with «Therefore»

The term «therefore» usually has a comma(s) in its immediate vicinity – whether the word is at a sentence’s beginning or somewhere in the middle. For example:

• Therefore, it makes a lot more sense not to invest in a particular stock.
• It could, therefore, mean hoping a lot from a single transaction.

It’s also acceptable to use «therefore» without parenthetical commas. The meaning or the structure of the sentence won’t be affected due to the lack of commas. For example:

• You should therefore clarify things with her now.
• This would foster competition and therefore much better deals for the end consumer.

Such usage, however, is usually relegated to casual or friendly correspondences. Or when «therefore» is not meant to serve as some kind of an interrupter.

As briefly discussed earlier, if «therefore» brings together two independent clauses or «therefore» is used as a conjunctive adverb, it’s preceded with a semicolon (;). For example:

• She reached the place late; therefore, she had to wait.
• He worked ward throughout the year; therefore, he received the promotion.
• She is my teacher; therefore, I respect her, even if I do not agree with some of her views.

Some people may choose to replace the semicolon with a colon in the sentences above, which is undoubtedly incorrect.

Using «Therefore» in Oral Conversations and Punctuations

The use of parenthetical commas may look correct on paper or in written texts. But if it were to be analyzed from the «oral speech» perspective, the two commas may seem one too many or unnecessarily interruptive.

In other words, when «therefore» has two punctuation marks on its sides (be it a semicolon and a comma, or a couple of commas), it denotes two distinct pauses. When reading the sentence aloud or using «therefore» in regular oral communications, however, the two verbal delays do not exist. There’s only a brief breather before «therefore», which may also not get emphasized at times.

Commas warrant a minor but noticeable pause in delivery. In public, trying to read a sentence containing «therefore» with its customary commas will sound awkward and even affectatious.

The pause is okay to employ when you’re in a courtroom or on a stage. But if you use those audibly discernible pauses when talking to your colleague or at the grocery counter, the other person is sure to give you the «what’s wrong with you?» look.

Long story short, punctuations flanking «therefore» on both sides are fine in texts if they do not intend to represent or reflect «normal» dialogue accurately.

Example Sentences with the Term «Therefore»

The following are sentences incorporating the word «therefore». Though some of them may require context, the sentences are grammatically correct, nonetheless.

• His narrative, therefore, was considered incomplete.
• Ingesting vitamin D3 supplements, therefore, can help with muscle building and overall good health.
• Those were just figures taken from a small population. The actual number could, therefore, be significantly higher.
• Therefore, he was not too keen on the offer.
• The best defense, therefore, is offense.
• Greek yogurt has higher protein content compared to regular yogurt. It, therefore, tends to be a bit more filling.
• You, therefore, should be wary of where you buy your supplements.
• This makes her feel healthy and, therefore, more energetic at work.
• The decision to appoint him as a trustee, therefore, makes sense.
• Therefore, a lot more houses should be built.
• She can, therefore, now afford to be a lot more philosophical about the defeat that hurt her big time then.
• He, therefore, doesn’t qualify to talk about the benefits of temperance.
• It’s, therefore, imperative to move on to the next task at hand right away.
• She is down with fever and, therefore, will not be playing tomorrow.
• She worked on the piece for six hours at a stretch; therefore, she could finish it before the deadline.
• The rebels killed all the tourists that were coming through the particular road during the last few weeks. She, therefore, urged us not to take that route and even abort the travel if there was no alternate path.

Conclusion

To conclude, «therefore» can be quite complex to incorporate in sentences – that is, if you don’t know what the adverb means or represents.

Though the meaning is relatively easy to learn and imbibe, things become quite tricky when punctuations, particularly commas, have to be accounted for. Since it’s okay not to use commas when there usually should have been a pair, quite a few writers find themselves stranded, unsure of using commas.

As mentioned above, don’t skimp on the punctuation if it’s a formal text. Some amount of slack is, however, acceptable if the scenario is more casual or friendly.

Have you ever heard the famous line “I think, therefore I am” by René Descartes? We all have! But what does therefore mean, and how should you use it? Therefore is a transition word that presents a cause and effect between independent clauses. 

Keep reading to learn how to use therefore with the correct intent and punctuation in your writing.  

How To Use Therefore In A Sentence?

Use the conjunctive adverb therefore to show cause and effect and improve your sentence flow. You may also use it to substitute transition words with the same meaning, like “as a result” and “thus.” For example, “It snowed today. Therefore, I was late for work.”

Therefore Punctuation Rules

There are two ways to punctuate therefore. First, use a comma when the sentence starts with therefore—for example:

• Incorrect: The players were my heroes, therefore, my dad was my hero because he was the coach. (This is a run-on sentence).
• Correct: The players were my heroes. Therefore, my dad was my hero because he was the coach.

A semicolon is also a proper way to punctuate therefore—for example:

• The players were my heroes; therefore, my dad was my hero because he was the coach.

Also, there are instances where you don’t need to punctuate. Add a conjunction along with therefore to connect two independent clauses—for example:

• The players were my heroes, and therefore my dad was my hero because he was the coach.

A punctuation mark is also unnecessary when therefore is used as an adverb—for example:

The roads in Amsterdam are more vacant and therefore the cab drivers can speed and manoeuvre along more easily. [Calgary Herald]

The 14^th Century: First Known Use Of Therefore

Therefore was first used in the 14th century. It comes from the Old English word þærfore. Therfor has been used since the 1800s to mean “for that” or “by reason of that.” Therefore is also used to mean “in consequence of that.”

Examples Of Using Therefore In The Middle Of A Sentence

Cameron’s under pressure from the Tory right for being a softie and, therefore, promised tougher action on the tabloid bad guys. [Guardian]

So, they discuss how they can position him to serve the maximum time, therefore keeping him off the streets in the future. [New York Daily News]

Jonah was bawling his eyes out. Therefore, he may be hurting.

My best friend is the most hardworking; therefore, he got the promotion.

What Can I Use Instead Of Therefore?

Below is a list of synonyms for therefore.

• Accordingly.
• Thus.
• Consequently.
• Wherefore.
• Ergo.
• Then.
• Hence.
• So.
• As a result.

Statistics for Therefore

The use of therefore started to rise in the 1800s and peaked in 1814 at 0.053%. It has been falling steadily since, with only a 0.013% in 2019. 

Despite the decline in the use of therefore, it remains more widely used than as a result, accordingly, ergo, and consequently. 

Therefore in a Nutshell

When Rene Descartes said, “I think, therefore I am,” he meant that one’s ability to think leads to the acknowledgment of their existence. Therefore, the word therefore indicates that something occurs because of something else. 

Now, do you feel comfortable using and punctuating therefore in sentences? When using the transition word, always include a comma, semicolon, or no punctuation if it’s used as an adverb.

You might also be interested in the difference between therefore and therefor.

The English word ‘therefore’ is an adjective or adverb that you can use as a transitional word in sentences and paragraphs. It shows cause and effect between main sentences, so cannot be used to start a paragraph or as part of a standalone sentence. If you want to use ‘therefore’ in your English lyrics, there are several things to remember to make sure you use it correctly. There are also some common misuses of «therefore» that are best avoided.

Steps

Method 1 of 3: Using common uses of ‘therefore’

Step 1. Use ‘therefore’ to show cause and effect

‘Therefore’ doesn’t work in all sentences. It has a very specific meaning and is only suitable for use in certain situations. The best way to remember when it is necessary to use ‘therefore’ in a sentence is to consider whether you are using it to show cause and effect. In other words, does the first statement cause the other statement, or is it a consequence of it? If not, «therefore» probably isn’t appropriate for that phrase.

• For example, use ‘therefore’ to show cause and effect between the following two statements: ‘John studied hard for the math exam. He got an A+.’ The revised sentence then becomes: ‘John studied hard for the math exam. Therefore, he got an A+.’
• Another example: ‘People who exercise regularly enjoy better health. You should exercise.’ Adding «therefore» improves the transition between these two ideas. ‘People who exercise regularly enjoy better health. Therefore, you should exercise.’

Step 2. Replace words and phrases that mean the same thing with ‘therefore’

‘Therefore’ can be used as a substitute for some other words and phrases, but it’s important to check the meaning first. Not all transition words and phrases can be replaced with ‘therefore’.

• For example: ‘Sally passed her drive test. As a result, she received her driver’s license.’ You can replace ‘as a result’ with ‘therefore’, because it has the same meaning as this sentence.
• In most cases, don’t use ‘therefore’ in place of a coordinating conjunction. Coordinating conjunctions include the words ‘for’, ‘and’, ‘nor’, ‘but’, ‘or’, ‘yet’ and ‘so’. Each of these terms has a specific meaning and they are not interchangeable with each other or with ‘therefore’. You should always check the meaning of a word or phrase before using it in a sentence.

Step 3. Include ‘therefore’ in the sentence to make it more fluid

Including the word «therefore» in your writing is a great way to make your text flow. A sentence or paragraph may sound choppy without transitions, but putting a transition word in between, such as «therefore,» can undo such stutters. Read the text out loud to look for places where you might want to insert a transition, then check if «therefore» might work in that place.

For example: these sentences sound jerky: ‘The weather was hot. He wore shorts and a T-shirt to school.’ Adding a prefix, like ‘therefore’ makes it smoother: ‘The weather was hot. Therefore, he wore shorts and a T-shirt to school.’

Method 2 of 3: Using the correct punctuation and capitalization for ‘therefore’

Step 1. End ‘therefore’ with a comma

‘Therefore’ must always be followed by a comma. This is because there is a natural pause after ‘therefore’ when it is included in a sentence. Without the comma, that sentence may sound rushed to readers.

• For example: ‘I love spending time in nature. Therefore I go camping every summer.’ Without the comma, there is no pause after ‘therefore’. Putting a comma after it tells readers to pause after the word «therefore.»
• The revised sentence reads: ‘I love spending time in nature. Therefore, (pause here) I go camping every summer.’

Step 2. Place a semicolon (;) before ‘therefore’ when separating main clauses

If you put ‘therefore’ in the middle of a sentence to separate two main sentences, you must use a semicolon there. In other words, if any part of the sentence can be a standalone sentence, then put a semicolon at the end of the first main sentence, then ‘therefore’ followed by a comma, then continue with the sentence.

For example: ‘Marcus loves to travel with his family; therefore, he is constantly on the lookout for low-cost airfares.’

Step 3. Capitalize ‘therefore’ when the word is at the beginning of a sentence

As in any sentence, ‘therefore’ should start with a capital letter at the beginning of a sentence, but this is not necessary in other cases.

Method 3 of 3: Avoid common mistakes

Step 1. Separate separate main sentences using ‘therefore’

You can use «therefore» in the middle of a sentence that contains two main clauses, but not in a sentence that contains subordinate clauses. A main clause can exist on its own, or you can separate main clauses using a semicolon.

• For example, ‘therefore’ can be used to separate two main sentences, such as, ‘California is a coastal state. It has many beaches.’ Rewrite this as, ‘California is a coastal state; therefore, it has many beaches.’
• In some cases you can use ‘therefore’ at the beginning of a sentence. For example, ‘June’s car broke down on her way to work. Therefore, she was late for the meeting.’
• Remember that «therefore» should be between two main clauses, not after.

Step 2. Use ‘therefore’ sparingly

«Therefore» is not a word that should be used often in a written context. It sounds best if you use it sparingly, so don’t overdo it. Use other words to vary transitions in your sentences, such as «so», «then», «accordingly», «consequently», «thus» or «since».

• For example, you can replace ‘therefore’ with ‘thus’ in the previous example. You then say, ‘California is a coastal state; thus, it has many beaches.’
• Remember to always make sure that the alternative word or phrase you are using has the same meaning as «therefore» in the sentence. If you’re not sure, look it up on a site like

Step 3. Write «therefore» instead of saying it

«Therefore» isn’t used much in conversations compared to written text, as it can sound a bit too formal for that. For this reason, it’s best to avoid «therefore» in most cases when you’re speaking and opt for more informal prefixes, such as «so» and «then.»

• For example, it might sound a little strange to people if you said something like, «It was raining when I left for work this morning, therefore I needed my raincoat.»
• An exception to this rule can be when you give a speech or presentation.

Last Update: Jan 03, 2023

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Therefore sentence example

Is there a comma before and after therefore?

Using Proper Punctuation and Capitalization for “Therefore” Follow “therefore” with a comma. “Therefore” should always be followed up with a comma. This is because there is a natural pause after “therefore” when it is included in a sentence.

How do you use therefore in the middle of a sentence?

You can put it in the middle of a sentence with two commas, and it can also be placed at the start of a sentence. You just have to make sure that the preceding sentence is still relevant to the second one.

What is the word therefore in grammar?

Therefore is an adverb that means “as a consequence,” “as a result,” or “hence.” Therefor is an adverb that means “for that,” or “for it.”

Can you use thus in the middle of a sentence?

When “thus” introduces a gerund or a gerund phrase, a comma is needed before “thus” but not after it. In the middle of an independent clause that it is interrupting, “thus” should be set apart with a comma on either side of it if it is a strong break or interruption.

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