thereby

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "thereby" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate that a particular action or result is due to something that has already been specified. For example: The company implemented aggressive cost-cutting measures, thereby increasing its profits for the quarter.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

In response, it cleaned up its act, and thereby lifted the bar for the entire industry.

The New York Times

The Sierra Leone ministry of health refused to share data in the early outbreak and instructed the WHO to report only lab-confirmed deaths, thereby excluding the "probable" and "suspect" cases that could not be tested because of the lack of testing facilities.

The Guardian

Inside the country, Fidesz has favoured the middle class, and especially the upper middle class, thereby building a core clientele of politically active supporters – while slashing benefits for the neediest (about a third of Hungarians live in poverty – don't be fooled by the glittering, EU-funded projects in the centre of Budapest).

The Guardian - Opinion

Moscow could grant Greece privileged import access, thereby generating revenue for struggling companies back home and allowing Tsipras to present a concrete result to his voters.

The Guardian

Running to more than 2,000 pages and costing hundreds of millions of euros, the report concluded that Lowry proceeded to bypass consideration by his cabinet colleagues and thereby not only influenced but also delivered the result that Esat Digifone had won the evaluation process, ultimately leading to the licensing award.

The Guardian

It is also a parallel universe where when a young woman faced with the loss of housing benefit and loss of shelter doesn't make a decision to get pregnant and thereby keep her housing benefit.

The Guardian

He acknowledged and apologised for his administration's promotion of dumping cheap US rice on Haiti, thereby destroying Haitian rice production and forcing rice farmers to flee to the overcrowded cities. Buttonholed in a UN hallway, he claims he thought that Haitians would "get aid to skip agricultural development and go straight into an industrial era".

The Guardian - Opinion

Confirming the UK's withdrawal, the new Foreign Office minister, Lady Anelay, highlighted an "unintended pull factor"' of search and rescue: "that it encourages more migrants to attempt the dangerous sea crossing, thereby leading to more tragic and unnecessary deaths".

The Guardian - Opinion

I'm also sorry that I helped to start the anti-GM movement back in the mid-1990s and that I thereby assisted in demonising an important technological option which can be used to benefit the environment.

The Guardian

But in an analogous way Moscow is now lending them support, political and financial, thereby boosting European neo-fascism.

The Guardian - Opinion

"If the Scottish experiment worked, it could make a pure residence charge look sensible rather than extreme, and thereby pave the way for its introduction in England and Wales," said Letwin, confirming the long-made but never confirmed charge that Thatcher treated people in Scotland as "guinea pigs" for England and Wales.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "thereby" to clearly link an action with its direct consequence, enhancing the logical flow of your writing. It is most effective when the cause-and-effect relationship is unambiguous.

Common error

Avoid using "thereby" when the connection between the action and result is weak or unclear. Overusing it can make your writing sound convoluted and less impactful; ensure the relationship is direct and logical.

Linguistic Context

Thereby functions as an adverbial connector, indicating that the action or state described in the main clause directly results from the action or state described in the preceding clause. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness. For example, "He studied diligently, thereby improving his grades."

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Formal & Business

18%

Science

14%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

"Thereby" is a potent tool for establishing direct causal links in writing. Ludwig AI validates its grammatical correctness and highlights its frequent use in formal contexts, particularly news and media. To wield it effectively, ensure the relationship you're drawing is both clear and logical, as overuse can dilute its impact. Remember that alternatives like "thus" or "consequently" may offer a more concise expression. By mastering these nuances, you can ensure your writing is both precise and impactful.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

thus

A more concise and direct synonym, indicating a logical consequence.

consequently

Emphasizes the result or effect of a previous action.

as a result

A more explicit phrase indicating a direct consequence.

hence

A formal term indicating a logical deduction or conclusion.

accordingly

Suggests that an action is taken in response to a particular situation.

in doing so

Emphasizes the action that leads to a particular outcome.

by means of which

A more formal and elaborate way of expressing the same idea.

through this action

Highlights the specific action that causes the result.

in consequence

A slightly more literary term for "as a result".

because of that

A simpler and less formal alternative.

FAQs

How can I use "thereby" in a sentence?

Use "thereby" to indicate that something is a direct result of a preceding action or event. For instance, "The company reduced its workforce, "thereby lowering costs"".

What are some alternatives to using "thereby"?

Alternatives include "thus", "consequently", or "as a result". The best choice depends on the specific context and desired level of formality.

Is it correct to start a sentence with "thereby"?

While grammatically possible, starting a sentence with "thereby" is generally discouraged as it can sound awkward. It's better to integrate it within the clause that describes the action leading to the consequence.

What is the difference between "thereby" and "therefore"?

"Thereby" indicates that something happens as a direct consequence of an action, whereas "therefore" suggests a logical conclusion based on preceding statements. "Thereby" focuses on the mechanism, while "therefore" emphasizes the inference.