thence

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'thence' is correct and can be used in written English.
It can be used to refer to a place from which something has come or to a place or situation to which someone or something has gone. For example, "He journeyed thence, never to return."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

So it was when I sat on the Warwick Road End's wooden benches to witness Ian Botham walk down the steps, through the members' seats to make his way to the crease in 1981 and thence on into history.

The Guardian - Sport

There was no precise time I became a thief, just a metempsychosis of Uranus that saw me graduate from the Reformatory to the Foreign Legion and thence to the piss and shit of the sewers.

The Guardian - Books

There was time for Kevin Pietersen to hit one more huge six, struck with massive assurance into the stand close to the Surrey dressing room, and to pass 350, before the Surrey No11 Matthew Dunn inside-edged a short delivery from Ben Raine into his thigh pad, and thence into the hands of short leg.

The Guardian - Sport

Luck is still on the Aussie side, Bailey swinging his bat and getting a fine top edge that sends the ball just out of Buttler's grasp and thence away for four.

The Guardian - Sport

The Belokamenka, which handles 10% of Rosneft's oil exports, is a good example: the oil reaches its Arctic mooring (and thence Europe and occasionally America) by an elaborate combination of trains, pipeline and tankers.Investing in Rosneft also carries a risk that is unlikely to be covered in the prospectus.

The Economist

It thence wends its way to a mailbox on the same server or via the internet to another mail server at which the recipient has his delivery address.

The Economist

Some of the money found its way to advertising firms with links to the Liberals, and thence back into party coffers.

The Economist

"THENCE to the whey-house and drank a great deal of whey," wrote Samuel Pepys in 1663.

The Economist

Luckily, by the time Voyager 2 reached Uranus in 1986, it had been.At present the data trickle in from the Voyagers to the Deep Space Network of radio telescopes sprinkled around the globe (which capture information from all manner of space and planetary operations), and thence to JPL, at just 160bps.

The Economist

Last year Apple launched a personal computer that is cooled by liquid that is pumped through little channels in the processor, and thence to a radiator, where it gives up its heat to the atmosphere.

The Economist

He then proceeded to the northern city of Tianjin and thence to Beijing for meetings with Chinese leaders.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "thence" to create a formal tone in your writing, especially when describing a journey or process with distinct steps.

Common error

Avoid using "thence" in everyday conversation or informal writing, as it can sound stilted or pretentious. Simpler alternatives like "from there" or "as a result" may be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The adverb "thence" primarily functions as a conjunctive adverb, indicating a connection between two parts of a sentence. Ludwig examples demonstrate its use to show movement from a place or a logical consequence. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Formal & Business

30%

Science

20%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "thence" is a grammatically sound adverb primarily employed to denote a transition from a specific location or a logical consequence. Its usage lends a formal tone to writing, making it suitable for academic, scientific, or formal business contexts. While confirmed as correct by Ludwig AI and frequently appearing in reputable sources like The Economist and The Guardian, it's advisable to reserve "thence" for situations where formality is desired, opting for more common alternatives like "from there" or "therefore" in informal settings. Remembering this will help you wield "thence" with precision and stylistic appropriateness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

from that place

Focuses specifically on the location aspect, replacing the single word with a prepositional phrase.

from there

A more common and less formal alternative that indicates a starting point.

from which

Emphasizes the point of origin or derivation.

as a consequence

Shifts the meaning towards a result or outcome, rather than a physical location.

after that

A simpler phrase emphasizing the temporal sequence.

henceforth

Indicates a point in time from which something begins or continues.

from that source

Highlights the origin of something, be it information or an object.

therefore

Highlights the logical conclusion or inference drawn from a previous statement.

as a result

Similar to "as a consequence", focusing on the resulting effect.

subsequently

Emphasizes the sequential aspect, indicating something that follows in time.

FAQs

How can I use "thence" in a sentence?

"Thence" is often used to indicate movement from a place or as a consequence of something. For example, "They traveled to Rome and "thence" to Florence" or "The argument was presented, and "thence", a conclusion was drawn".

What words can I use instead of "thence"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "from there", "as a result", "therefore", or "subsequently". The best choice depends on whether you want to emphasize location, consequence, or sequence.

Is it correct to use "thence" in modern English?

Yes, it's grammatically correct, but it is more common in formal or literary writing. In everyday speech, it might sound unusual. Ludwig AI confirms that "thence" is correct and can be used in written English.

What is the difference between "thence" and "hence"?

"Thence" refers to a place or a point in a sequence, while "hence" indicates a reason or consequence. So, "thence" means "from there", and "hence" means "therefore".