Dictionary
Find
in
Dictionary
Thesaurus
Translations

Click to move up the list of words
theretofore
thereunder
thereupon
therewith
therianthropic
theriomorphic
therizinosaur
therm
therm-
therm.
thermae
thermal
thermal barrier
thermal conductivity
thermal cracking
thermal efficiency
thermal equilibrium
Click to move down the list of words
Also available:

World English Dictionary
Dictionnaire Français

therefore

there·fore [ ér fàwr ]


adverb 
Definition:
 
1. and so: and so, or because of that
This statement is true; therefore that statement must be false.

2. accordingly: accordingly, or to that purpose
We were forbidden to attend and therefore stayed at home.


Word Usage

Therefore and thus are both fairly formal words that introduce a statement that is a consequence of the previous statement. They should not be used as empty connectors when what follows them does not derive from what precedes them: Your grade on the test was 20 percent; therefore, you have failed. It is tautologous to use so therefore: just therefore is sufficient. Punctuation around therefore requires some care. There is no comma between clauses where therefore is in the second clause, but instead a semicolon or a new sentence: I had forgotten my key; therefore, I could not open the door.She left the library at 4 o'clock. She was therefore not there when the murder took place.

Advertisement

© 2009 Microsoft