Words / C1

HENS/hens/

Hence means for this reason (formal), or from now: hence the delay, a week hence. Therefore and so are everyday cousins. Thence is from that place — a rare cousin. Henceforth is from this time on. Do not sprinkle hence into every sentence as decoration.

Meaning

For this reason; therefore (formal). Also: from now (a week hence).

Examples

• “The n was tiny; hence the wide confidence interval.”
• “The sample was tiny; hence the interval was too wide to publish as fact.”
• “Three weeks hence is diary English; hence as “therefore” is the essay sense.”

Good to know

Therefore (formal); also “from now”. Everyday: so / therefore. Cousin: thence (from there). From now on: henceforth.

Near in meaning

therefore

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