“Therefore” is a conjunction in English that can be used as a transition word in sentences and paragraphs. This word shows cause and effect between several independent clauses, so it cannot be used to start a paragraph or be included as part of an independent sentence. If you want to use “therefore” in your writing, there are a few things to keep in mind to make sure it's used correctly. There are also some common mistakes in using the word “therefore” that should be avoided.
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Method 1 of 3: Know Common Uses of the Word “Therefore”
Step 1. Use “therefore” to show cause and effect
“Therefore” cannot be used in all sentences. This word has a special meaning and is only appropriate for certain situations. The best way to remember it is to determine if the sentence has a causal relationship. In other words, does the first sentence cause or lead to another sentence? Otherwise, this word is not appropriate.
- For example, use “therefore” to show a causal relationship between two sentences: “John studied hard for the math exam. He got an A+” (John studied hard for his math test. He got an A+.). The sentence with the word “therefore” is as follows: “John studied hard for the math exam. Therefore, he got an A+” (John studied hard for the math exam. Therefore, he got an A+.).
- Another example is the following, "People who exercise regularly enjoy better health. You should exercise." Adding the word " therefore " will facilitate the flow of ideas in both sentences. " People who exercise regularly enjoy better health. Therefore, you should exercise ".
Step 2. Replace words or phrases with similar meaning with the word “therefore”
The word “therefore” can be used to replace some other words and phrases, but you should check the meaning first. Not all transition words and phrases can be exchanged for " therefore ".
- For example, " Sally passed her drive test. As a result, she received her driver's license ". You can replace the phrase " as a result " (as a result) with " therefore " because it has a similar meaning.
- Do not use “therefore” in place of most cases of equivalent conjunctions. Some examples of equivalent conjunctions (coordinating conjunctions) include for (for), and (and), nor (neither), but (but), or (or), yet (but), and so on. Each of these words has a specific meaning and cannot be substituted for one another, including the word “therefore”. Always check the meaning of a word or phrase before using it in a sentence.
Step 3. Include “therefore” to improve sentence flow
Use the word “therefore” to improve the flow of your writing. Include “therefore” in awkward-sounding sentences or paragraphs without transitions to smooth the flow. Read your writing aloud to find sentences that require transitions, and determine if you can use the word “therefore” in those sentences.
For example, this sentence sounds clumsy: “The weather was hot. He wore shorts and a T-shirt to school.” (The weather is hot. He wears shorts and a T-shirt to school.). However, adding a transition word like “therefore” will improve the flow of the sentence: “The weather was hot. Therefore, he wore shorts and a T-shirt to school.”
Method 2 of 3: Use the Appropriate Punctuation and Capital Letters for the Word “Therefore”
Step 1. Put a comma after the word “therefore”
“Therefore” must always be followed by a comma because there is a natural pause after this word when in a sentence. Without the comma, the sentence will feel rushed to the reader.
- For example, “I love spending time in nature. Therefore I go camping every summer.” No commas, no pause after the word “therefore”. However, if you include a comma, the reader will pause after reading the word “therefore”.
- The correct form for the sentence above is: “I love spending time in nature. Therefore, I go camping every summer.”
Step 2. Put a semicolon (;) before “therefore” when separating independent clauses
If you use “therefore” in the middle of a sentence to separate two independent clauses, you need to put a semicolon. In other words, if each part of the sentence can stand alone, put a semicolon at the end of the first independent clause, continue with “therefore”, and put a comma at the end of the word before continuing the sentence.
For example, “Marcus loves to travel with his family; therefore, he is constantly on the lookout for low-cost airfares” (Marcus loves to travel with his family; therefore, he often searches for cheap airline tickets.)
Step 3. Capitalize the word “therefore” at the beginning of a sentence
Like other sentences, “therefore” must be capitalized at the beginning of the sentence, but not in other situations.
Method 3 of 3: Avoiding Common Mistakes
Step 1. Separate independent clauses using “therefore”
You can use “therefore” in the middle of a sentence that contains two independent clauses, but not in a sentence that has a dependent clause. Independent clauses can stand alone as independent sentences, or be separated using semicolons.
- For example, “therefore” can be used to separate two clauses such as “California is a coastal state. It has many beaches” (California is a coastal state. This state has many beaches.). Both sentences can be corrected to become, “California is a coastal state; therefore, it has many beaches” (California is a coastal state; therefore, it has many beaches.).
- In some cases, you can also use “therefore” to start a sentence. For example, “June's car broke down on her way to work. Therefore, she was late for the meeting” (June's car broke down on her way to work. Therefore, she was late for the meeting.).
- Remember that “therefore” must be between two independent clauses, not after.
Step 2. Try not to use the word “therefore” too often
“Therefore” is not a word that should be used frequently in writing. Use other transition words to vary the sentence, for example “so” (so), “then” (then), “accordingly” (thereby), “accordingly” (as a result), “thus” (therefore), or “since (since).
- For example, you could replace “therefore” with “thus” in the previous example. You might say, "California is a coastal state; thus, it has many beaches."
- Remember to always make sure that other words are used appropriately in place of “therefore” in the sentence. When in doubt, try to find out on a site like
Step 3. Write “therefore” instead of saying it
The word “therefore” is less often used in conversation than writing because it is too formal in everyday conversation. For this reason, you should avoid using the word “therefore” when conversing in English, and choose a more casual transition word, such as “so” or “then”.
- For example, the sentence “It was raining when I left for work this morning. Therefore, I needed my raincoat” (it was raining when I left for work this morning. Therefore, I need to wear a raincoat) sounds strange to say.
- This rule is excluded when you give a lecture, speech, or presentation.
