therefore
therefore
Adverb
This term functions as a conjunctive adverb, signaling a logical progression from a premise to a conclusion. It is predominantly used in formal writing, academic papers, and legal documents to establish a clear cause-and-effect relationship. In casual spoken English, it is often replaced by "so" to avoid sounding overly stiff or pretentious.
When used to mean "in that way," the word emphasizes the consistency between a person's character or a situation's nature and the resulting action. This usage is less common than the causal sense and typically appears in literary or highly descriptive contexts to reinforce a logical link between a trait and a behavior.
Meanings
Examples
Related Words
consequentlyhencethusaccordinglysoneverthelessnonethelesshowevercausalityconclusioninferencedeductionlogicreasoningpremisesyllogismresulteffectoutcomeconsequenceimplicationcorollaryproofevidenceargumentrationalejustificationsequelaftermathderivationtheoremaxiompostulatevaliditytruthfactcausationlinkageconnectiontransitionconjunctionadverbdiscourserhetoricanalysissynthesissummationentailmentnecessityinevitabilitysequenceorderprogressionflowstructurecoherencecohesionlogic gatepropositiondeduceinferconcludederivereason