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Discussion Groups / British English / October 2005Question: difference between "therefore", "hence", and "thus"
Hello, I'm a native German speaker, but like to express myself in English. Since a while I've been wondering what the difference between "therefore", "hence", and "thus" is. Can anybody explain it to be, and point out some examples how to use them appropriately?  SignatureCheers, Wolfram > Hello, > [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > "therefore", "hence", and "thus" is. Can anybody explain it to be, and > point out some examples how to use them appropriately? They are all roughly synonymous with "so", which would be the most colloquial of the terms. "Therefore" is also in common use but "hence" sounds more appropriate to a scientific argument and "thus" sounds rather old-fashioned. >> Hello, >> [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > but "hence" sounds more appropriate to a scientific argument > and "thus" sounds rather old-fashioned. You think so (for 'thus')? I'm surprised, it is a word I would use more frequently than 'hence' I think, though I would use 'therefore most of all . >>Since a while I've been wondering what the difference between >>"therefore", "hence", and "thus" is. Can anybody explain it to be, and [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > but "hence" sounds more appropriate to a scientific argument > and "thus" sounds rather old-fashioned. Thanks for the explanation. :) I'd assume, that "thus" is related to reasoning, while neither "hence" nor "therefore" is. Do "therefore" and "hence" relate to time/a point of view somewhere in time? I'd think, that "therefore" were used well in a situation someone is making a decision - "I considered this and that, therefore I choose that" - while "hence" would be used from a later point of view: "I considered this and that, hence I chose that". Or is that differentiation for "hence" vs "therefore" invalid? SignatureWolfram > I'd assume, that "thus" is related to reasoning, while neither "hence" > nor "therefore" is. "I think, therefore I am" - it is related to reasoning. I think the words are completely synonymous, and an example of the common English practice of varying the word used purely to break the monotony (which in fact we were taught in school back in the sixties). Paul Burke > >>Since a while I've been wondering what the difference between > >>"therefore", "hence", and "thus" is. Can anybody explain it to be, and [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > I'd assume, that "thus" is related to reasoning, while neither "hence" > nor "therefore" is. They are all used in reasoning. "Hence" literally means "from here" (just as "whence" means "from where"). > Do "therefore" and "hence" relate to time/a point of > view somewhere in time? I'd think, that "therefore" were used well in a [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > Or is that differentiation for "hence" vs "therefore" invalid? As a native English speaker, I am not aware of any difference in time or tense in their usage, but I could be wrong. In the example you cite, they seem interchangeable to me. >I'd assume, that "thus" is related to reasoning, while neither "hence" >nor "therefore" is. "Therefore" is a standard term used in mathematical reasoning. It has its own symbol: 3 dots in a regular triangle pointing upwards. An example can be seen nearly halfway down this webpage: http://www.scenta.co.uk/tcaep/maths/symbol/Mathematical%20Symbols/ As can be seen there is also the term "because". This has the inverse meaning to "therefore" and is represented by an upsidedown therefore symbol. SignaturePeter Duncanson UK (posting from u.c.l.e) >>I'd assume, that "thus" is related to reasoning, while neither "hence" >>nor "therefore" is. [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > An example can be seen nearly halfway down this webpage: > http://www.scenta.co.uk/tcaep/maths/symbol/Mathematical%20Symbols/ Great! Thanks for the pointer. :) > As can be seen there is also the term "because". This has the inverse > meaning to "therefore" and is represented by an upsidedown therefore > symbol. SignatureWolfram |
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