Q&A for How to Use Therefore in a Sentence

Return to Full Article

Coming soon

Add New Question

Question

What is the proper punctuation for this sentence: "We therefore respectfully decline."

wikiHow Staff Editor
Staff Answer
This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

wikiHow Staff Editor

Staff Answer

Your sentence is already punctuated correctly. Here, you're using "therefore" as an adverb, so there's no need to use any punctuation at all.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 0 Helpful 3
Question

"The structure has become weakened. It has, therefore, to be . . ." Do I need a comma before and after "therefore," or just after?

wikiHow Staff Editor
Staff Answer
This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

wikiHow Staff Editor

Staff Answer

In this sentence, you would put a comma before and after "therefore" because it is an interrupter. Although it's being used as an adverb, it comes after the verb it modifies. If you put it before "has" ("It therefore has to be..."), you wouldn't need any punctuation at all.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 1 Helpful 3
Question

Hi, is this sentence correct? "Therefore children use their imagination more, they often find unusual solutions to things."

wikiHow Staff Editor
Staff Answer
This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

wikiHow Staff Editor

Staff Answer

As is, you need a comma after "therefore" since it is an introductory phrase. But ask yourself which statement you're making is the cause and which is the effect. It seems that what you're saying is that children often find unusual solutions to things because they use their imagination more—which means "therefore" should introduce the second clause, not the first. Additionally, you have a comma splice. A correct sentence would be: "Children use their imagination more; therefore, they often find unusual solutions to things."

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 0 Helpful 3
Question

Can I put a comma (,) before "therefore"? Like: "It is a hot day, therefore I will wear a hat."

wikiHow Staff Editor
Staff Answer
This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

wikiHow Staff Editor

Staff Answer

No. In the example you've given, you have a comma splice because you're trying to stitch together 2 complete thoughts into 1 sentence. Here, you need a semicolon before "therefore" and a comma after, like this: "It is a hot day; therefore, I will wear a hat."

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 0 Helpful 1