What is Therefore? The meaning and usage of Therefore in English

In English, the conjunction Therefore is used to create coherence and unity between sentences and paragraphs. What is Therefore in English when and how is it used? Let's explore the details in the article below with PREP!

I. What is Therefore in English?

What is Therefore? Therefore is a conjunction in English that means 'as a result', 'thus', or 'consequently'. For example:

• She studied very hard; therefore, she passed the university entrance exam. 
• She overslept; therefore, she missed the train. 

II. The position of Therefore in sentences

Therefore can be positioned in three different places within a sentence: at the beginning, in the middle, or at the end. Refer to the content below to understand the meaning of Therefore in English and its positions in a sentence.

1. In the middle of the sentence

When Therefore is placed in the middle of a sentence, it is typically separated from the preceding clause by a semicolon and followed by a comma before the subsequent clause. For example:

• She is a fan of Lisa; therefore; she bought tickets to the concert. 
• He loves her very much; therefore, he proposes to her. 

2. At the beginning of a sentence

Therefore can also be placed at the beginning of a sentence to provide a clear conclusion. However, it is preceded by a complete sentence or clause. Therefore is followed by a comma, separating it from the result clause. For example:

• She missed the train. Therefore, she cannot come to the company on time.
• It’s raining heavily. Therefore, she took a leave of absence from work and stayed home. 

3. At the end of a sentence

In some cases, Therefore can be placed at the end of a sentence, preceded by a comma. For example:

• Hung did not study. He failed the exam, therefore. 
• She forgot to bring an umbrella. She got wet, therefore. 

III. The usage of Therefore in English

What is Therefore in English? How is Therefore used? In general, Therefore is a conjunction used to express the cause-and-effect relationship between events or circumstances. For example:

• This month the company achieved high sales. Therefore, all employees are rewarded. 
• It rained heavily. Therefore, the football match was postponed. 

IV. Common mistakes with Therefore in English

Below are some common mistakes that are often made when using Therefore in English, so please take note to avoid them!

1. Limit its use in spoken language

Therefore is known to be a formal and more suitable term for written language. Therefore, when communicating orally, it is advisable to avoid using Therefore and instead use "So" or "Then."

2. Rules regarding punctuation before and after Therefore

• Pay attention to the use of a comma after Therefore when it appears at the beginning of a sentence. For example: My sister really likes the band Blackpink. Therefore, I gave her a ticket to Blackpink's concert.
• Use a semicolon before Therefore when separating independent clauses in a sentence. For example: She did an excellent job; therefore, she was given a great reward.

V. Equivalent phrases to Therefore in English

What is Therefore? How many synonyms are there for Therefore? Please refer to the table below:

VI. Exercises on Therefore in English with detailed answers

To remember what Therefore means and how to use it in English, let's practice with the following exercises:

Exercise 1: Rewrite the following sentences with the given words:

• Liz forgot her coat. She caught a cold. (therefore)
• My brother studied hard for the exam. He felt confident when he walked into the classroom. (consequently) 
• The plane was delayed, I missed my connecting flight.  (consequently) 
• The company implemented new policies. Their profits increased.  (consequently) 
• My boyfriend didn’t have any previous experience in coding. He decided to take a beginner’s course. (accordingly)

Exercise 2: Rewrite the following sentences with the given words: 

• David didn’t have a raincoat. As a result, he got wet. (thus)
• My sister forgot her lunch at home. Consequently, she had to buy something from the cafeteria. (therefore) 
• Linda practiced the piano diligently. Therefore, she performed exceptionally well at the recital. (thus)
• The road was closed for repairs. Hence, I had to take a detour. (so) 
• This restaurant ran out of milk. As a result, they couldn’t make coffee. (thus)

Answer keys:

Exercise 1:

• Liz forgot her coat, therefore she caught a cold.
• My brother studied hard for the exam, consequently, he felt confident when he walked into the classroom.
• The plane was delayed, consequently I missed my connecting flight.  
• The company implemented new policies, consequently their profits increased. 
• My boyfriend didn’t have any previous experience in coding, accordingly he decided to take a beginner’s course. 

Exercise 2:

• David didn’t have a raincoat. Thus, he got wet.
• My sister forgot her lunch at home. Therefore, she had to buy something from the cafeteria.
• Linda practiced the piano diligently. Thus, she performed exceptionally well at the recital.
• The road was closed for repairs. So, I had to take a detour.
• This restaurant ran out of milk. Thus, they couldn’t make coffee.

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