Practice
Therefore, hence, and thus: what is the difference?
Sign in to saveThe train was canceled, so Mia worked from home. In a report, she might write: The train was canceled; therefore, Mia worked from home. The same result can be expressed with hence or thus, but the choice changes the tone and sometimes the sentence pattern.
Choose therefore, hence, or thus to show a result, recognize the extra time meaning of hence, and punctuate these formal linking adverbs clearly.
Read and practice
Read the examples and try the written questions in this guide. Listening recordings are not available for this lesson yet.
Try the written questions
therefore, hence, and thus /ˈðeə.fɔːr/, /hens/, and /ðʌs/
The short answer
Use therefore when you want a direct formal link from a reason to a result. Use hence in formal writing, especially before a noun phrase or when the meaning is from now. Use thus for a result or for the meaning in this way.
The building was closed; therefore, the meeting moved online.
Why it works: Therefore introduces the result of the building closure.
6 more examples
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The weather warning was serious; therefore, the organizer postponed the outdoor class.
Therefore states the result of the warning in a clear, formal way.
Not this:The weather warning was serious,
sothe organizer postponed the outdoor class. What changes: So is more common in ordinary conversation and has the same cause and result here. -
The room was already full, hence the decision to offer a second session.
Hence introduces a noun phrase, the decision, that follows from the first fact.
Not this:The room was already full;
therefore, we offered a second session. What changes: Therefore is followed by a complete clause with a subject and verb. -
The team tested the form on a phone and thus found the small-screen error.
Thus shows the result of testing the form on a phone.
Not this:The team tested the form
in this way: first on a phone and then on a laptop. What changes: In this way gives the other common meaning of thus: the method used. -
The new library will open six months hence.
Here hence means from now, so it refers to time rather than a result.
Not this:The new library will open
in six months. What changes: This everyday phrase gives the same future-time idea more plainly. -
The figures were incomplete. Thus, the report could not support a final conclusion.
Thus begins a new sentence and links the incomplete figures to the result.
Not this:The figures were incomplete,
thusthe report could not support a final conclusion. What changes: A comma alone does not correctly join the two complete clauses in this sentence. -
The store had no delivery service; hence, customers collected their orders in person.
Hence connects the missing service with the result for customers.
Not this:The store had no delivery service
becausecustomers collected their orders in person. What changes: Because introduces a reason, but this sentence reverses the intended cause and result.
Read the full guide
First find the cause and the result. If the sentence simply needs a formal version of for that reason, therefore usually works. Then check whether you need the special time meaning of hence or the in this way meaning of thus.
Start with the result
These words help a reader follow an argument. Put the reason first, then use therefore, hence, or thus to introduce what happened because of that reason. The words do not create the logic. The facts on both sides must already make sense together.
The road was flooded; therefore, the bus used another route.
The flood is the reason. The changed route is the result.
Which part of the sentence comes after therefore: the reason or the result?
The result comes after therefore in this pattern.
Use therefore for a clear formal result
Therefore means for that reason. It is useful in reports, explanations, and formal emails. In conversation, so is usually more natural. Therefore can appear at the start of a sentence, after a semicolon, or inside a clause when the sentence remains clear.
The payment did not arrive. Therefore, the order stayed on hold.
The period ends the first complete sentence. Therefore begins the sentence that gives the result.
The payment did not arrive; therefore, the order stayed on hold.
A semicolon can connect the two closely related complete clauses.
Notice the two meanings of hence
Hence can mean for that reason, like therefore, but it often sounds more formal. It can also mean from now in a time expression. This second meaning does not explain a result, so read the words around hence before choosing it.
The hall has limited seating, hence the advance booking requirement.
Hence points to the requirement as a result of limited seating.
A year hence, the team will review the plan.
A year hence means one year from now. It is a time phrase, not a result link.
Choose thus for a result or a method
Thus often appears in formal explanations. It can mean with that result, much like therefore. It can also mean in this way, especially when the sentence describes a method. The surrounding words tell you which meaning applies.
The guide used short steps and thus made the process easier to follow.
Thus shows the result of using short steps.
Hold the paper thus, with the folded edge at the top.
Thus means in this way and describes how to hold the paper.
Punctuate the link clearly
Therefore, hence, and thus are adverbs, not coordinating conjunctions like and or but. When they connect two complete clauses, a comma by itself is not enough. End the first clause with a period, or use a semicolon. Then place a comma after the linking word when it begins the next clause.
The venue changed; hence, we sent an updated map.
The semicolon separates two complete clauses, and hence explains the result.
Which punctuation fits here: The venue changed ___ hence, we sent an updated map.
Use a semicolon: The venue changed; hence, we sent an updated map.
Before you go
Remember this
Therefore is the most direct formal choice for a result. Hence is formal and can also mean from now in a time phrase. Thus can show a result or mean in this way. Check the sentence structure, then use a period or semicolon when the word links complete clauses.
Practice with the written examples
You can practice with the written questions in the Learn tab. Each answer includes an explanation.
Try the written questionsListening test not available yet
This lesson does not have the recordings needed for a listening test. Use the written questions in the guide to check your understanding.
Try the written questionsQuestions about "Therefore, hence, and thus: what is the difference?"
What is the main difference between therefore, hence, and thus?
All three words can link a reason to a result in formal English. Therefore is the clearest general choice for for that reason. Hence is more formal and can also appear in time phrases. Thus can show a result or mean in this way, so the context decides its meaning.
The weather warning was serious; therefore, the organizer postponed the outdoor class.
Can I use therefore, hence, and thus in everyday conversation?
You can, but these words often sound formal in relaxed conversation. Therefore is common in explanations and writing, while hence and thus are less usual in everyday speech. In a casual conversation, so or because may sound more natural when they express the same relationship.
The weather warning was serious, so the organizer postponed the outdoor class.
How do I punctuate therefore, hence, and thus between two sentences?
When the word links two complete clauses, use a period before it or a semicolon before it. At the start of the result clause, place a comma after therefore, hence, or thus. A comma alone cannot correctly join the two complete clauses.
The room was already full, hence the decision to offer a second session.
What does hence mean in a time phrase?
In a phrase such as two months hence, hence means from now. It gives a future time rather than a reason or a result. This use is formal, and in two months is the more common everyday alternative.
The room was already full; therefore, we offered a second session.
Can thus mean in this way?
Yes. Thus can mean in this way when it describes a method or manner. In other sentences, it means with this result. Read the surrounding clause to decide whether thus explains how something is done or what happened as a result.
The team tested the form on a phone and thus found the small-screen error.