The Difference Between Therefor and Therefore

The Difference Between “Therefor” and “Therefore”

Sometimes, English can be confusing. Two words that look almost the same are “therefor” and “therefore.” But they are different and used in different ways. Let’s learn about their history, how to use them, and a trick to remember the difference.

History

“Therefor” and “therefore” both come from old English words.

• “Therefor” has been used since the 1200s. It means “for that reason.”
• “Therefore” has been used since the 1300s. It means “because of this.”

How to Use Them

Therefor

“Therefor” is not used as much today. It means “for that thing” or “for that reason.”

• The man paid $10 therefor the book.
• He studied hard therefor he wanted to pass the test.
• The lady cooked dinner therefor she was hungry.
• They built a house therefor they needed a place to live.
• The teacher gave homework therefor the students could learn more.

Therefore

“Therefore” is used a lot. It means “because of this” or “so.”

• It was raining; therefore, we stayed inside.
• She was tired; therefore, she went to bed early.
• The movie was funny; therefore, we laughed a lot.
• He didn’t study; therefore, he failed the test.
• They were late; therefore, they missed the bus.

Trick to Remember the Difference

Remember: “Therefore” is very common and used just like “so.” Use “therefor” when talking about doing something “for that reason.”

Summary

“Therefor” means “for that reason” or “for that thing,” but is not used much today. “Therefore” means “because of this” and is used a lot. Use “therefor” if you are talking about doing something for a reason, and use “therefore” if you mean “so” or “because of this.”