Therefore: stating a conclusion

The idea

Use a separate sentence, a semicolon, or a suitable conjunction: The room is unavailable; therefore, we need another place. It can also follow an auxiliary: may therefore need checking.

Examples

• The room is unavailable; therefore, we need another place.
• The road is closed, and therefore the bus takes a different route.
• The shop opens at ten. Therefore, we cannot enter at nine.
• The team found an error and therefore revised the plan.
• The tickets sold out; therefore, they chose another date.
• The map is old; the route may therefore need checking.

Watch out

Therefore signals the writer’s reasoning; the connection still needs evidence and does not automatically make the conclusion true.

Try it yourself

1. Choose the connector for the stated consequence. The room is unavailable; ___, we need another place. (therefore / nevertheless)

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   therefore

   Therefore introduces the consequence of the room being unavailable.

2. Choose the punctuation separating the complete clauses. Which mark can separate complete clauses before therefore? (semicolon / comma)

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   semicolon

   A semicolon can separate the clauses before therefore.

3. Choose what the word alone establishes about the conclusion. A sentence uses therefore. Its conclusion is ___. (not automatically proven / automatically proven)

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   not automatically proven

   The word signals reasoning but does not prove its conclusion.

Use it today

Give a reason and a conclusion linked with therefore.