Difference between revisions of "Therefor - therefore"
From Hull AWE
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*'''Therefore''' is the usual spelling. It has a slightly tighter meaning, derived from '''therefor''': it means for that reason. | *'''Therefore''' is the usual spelling. It has a slightly tighter meaning, derived from '''therefor''': it means for that reason. | ||
| − | + | '''Therefore''' is a [[sentence adverb]], and should not be used after a comma (because it isn't a [[conjunction]]. | |
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[[Category:Academic English]] [[Category:Usage]] [[Category:Grammar]] | [[Category:Academic English]] [[Category:Usage]] [[Category:Grammar]] | ||
Revision as of 17:12, 2 August 2007
In current English, the two spellings therefor and therefore are distinguished. (They used to be interchangeable.)
- Therefor is old-fashioned, and not much used – except by lawyers. It means ‘for that’, in many senses of ‘for’. People used to name a purpose, and then raise taxes therefor (i.e. for that purpose); they could buy something and then pay therefor.
- Therefore is the usual spelling. It has a slightly tighter meaning, derived from therefor: it means for that reason.
Therefore is a sentence adverb, and should not be used after a comma (because it isn't a conjunction.
