Difference Between Thereby and Therefore

“Thereby” and “Therefore” are adverbs that are often used to connect ideas and show relationships between them in a sentence. While they are similar in meaning, there are some differences in their usage.

Difference between Thereby and Therefore

Meaning of Thereby

Thereby refers to “by that means” or “As a result of that”. Thereby is mostly used as an important result of the consequences of the events mentioned.

Usage of Thereby

• “Thereby” is used to show the method or cause of something happening
• “Thereby” is used to indicate that one event or action is a direct result of another event or action. It is often used to explain how something was accomplished or achieved.

Examples of Thereby

• She lost her job, thereby losing her income.
• He studied hard, thereby passing the exam.
• The company invested in new technology, thereby improving efficiency.
• She solved the problem, thereby earning the respect of her colleagues.
• The team scored a goal, thereby taking the lead.
• The storm damaged the roof, thereby causing a leak.

Meaning of Therefore

The word “therefore” is used to draw a conclusion from what has been previously stated or inferred, and can also indicate that the speaker or writer is presenting a logical argument or sequence of ideas. “Therefore” is a transitional word that can be used to link sentences, paragraphs, or entire sections of a written work or speech.

Usage of Therefore

“Therefore” is used to indicate a logical conclusion based on a given situation or premise. It is often used to summarize an argument or draw a conclusion or used to show a cause-and-effect relationship between ideas, facts, or events.

Examples of Therefore

• It’s raining, therefore we should bring umbrellas.
• He missed the deadline, therefore he won’t get paid.
• She’s an expert in the field, therefore we should listen to her advice.
• The project is behind schedule, therefore we need to work overtime.
• The traffic is heavy, therefore we should take a different route.  

Differences between Thereby and Therefore

	“Thereby”	“Therefore”
Definition	By means of that, as a result of that	“Therefore” is used to draw a conclusion from what has been previously stated or inferred
Usage	Shows the method or cause of something happening or the means by which something is achieved	Shows a logical consequence or conclusion of something that has been previously mentioned
Position in a sentence	Usually appears after the action or cause	Usually appears after the reason or cause
Emphasis	Focuses on the cause or method	Focuses on the conclusion or result
Tone	Can indicate a causal or explanatory relationship	Can indicate a logical or consequential relationship
Frequency of use	Less common in everyday writing and speech	More commonly used in everyday writing and speech
Function within a sentence	Indicates a cause-and-effect relationship between two actions or events	Indicates a conclusion drawn from an argument or set of facts

Conclusion

Both Thereby and Therefore are transition words, the key difference is that thereby is used as “by that means”, whereas therefore is used as “for that reason”.