thus why not

USAGE SUMMARY

'thus why not' is correct and can be used in written English.
It can be used to express a feeling of acceptance of something, and is usually followed by a suggestion or invitation. For example, "We both agree that this is the right course of action, thus why not get started on it today?".

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Thus, why not to define good abstractions for networking?

Journal of the Brazilian Computer Society

Thus, why not study all comers in septic shock, ignoring whether the patient is adrenally insufficient or not?

Critical Care

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

So why not dinosaurs?

Evolution: Education and Outreach

Thus "why?" is not just a metaphysical cry against the nature of things, but a mixture of that and genuine puzzlement.

The Guardian - Opinion

Thus why don't we go and capture this income and parcel it out to everyone as a universal basic income?

Forbes

This study investigated the reasons why such "scientific evidence of treatment effectiveness" is not easily accepted by physicians, and thus, why they do not change their clinical practices to reflect such evidence.

BMC Health Services Research

However, we are not including these as separate experiments (thus why it is not in reference to Figure 3A), but rather performing multiple tests (and correcting for them) to test both hypotheses.

eLife

Yes, a lot of rape cases rest on "he said, she said", it's why they're so difficult to prosecute, and thus why women don't report them.

Vice

The one I've found myself thinking about, long after my relationship with the drug came to a fairly amicable end, is thus: why the fuck don't weed and dance music work well together?

Vice

If religious alternative concepts are proposed by students, the teacher needs to offer instruction concerning the nature of science and thus why religious alternative concepts are not science concepts.

Evolution: Education and Outreach

Thus, why sperm flagellum assembly is not reliant on conventional IFT remains a conundrum.

Biology Open

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "thus why not" to smoothly transition from a premise or established fact to a suggestion or rhetorical question that logically follows. This can create a compelling invitation to consider an action or idea.

Common error

Avoid using "thus why not" as a mere substitute for a simple "why not". "Thus" implies a direct logical consequence; ensure the suggestion genuinely follows from a previously stated point. Otherwise, use "why not" directly.

Linguistic Context

"Thus why not" functions as a causal connector, linking a preceding statement or situation to a suggestion or rhetorical question. It serves to introduce an action or idea that logically follows. Ludwig indicates that this usage is grammatically correct and suggests an acceptance of something, typically followed by a proposition.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

37%

News & Media

37%

Academia

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "thus why not" functions as a causal connector that introduces a suggestion logically linked to preceding information. While Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness, it is a relatively rare phrase that is predominantly found in scientific and news media contexts. The most effective use of "thus why not" involves ensuring a clear and direct causal relationship between the initial statement and the subsequent suggestion. It's important to avoid using this phrase as a simple substitute for 'why not' if that relationship isn't present. Furthermore, consider alternatives like "therefore why shouldn't we" or "hence why not consider" to vary your writing style.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

therefore why shouldn't we

Emphasizes the absence of reasons against a course of action, rather than directly suggesting it.

hence why not consider

Formally introduces a suggestion, highlighting the logical consequence of prior information.

given this, why not try

Suggests an experimental approach based on existing conditions, differing in tone from a general invitation.

consequently, what's stopping us

Highlights the lack of obstacles following a previous statement.

accordingly, why hesitate

Urges immediate action based on preceding circumstances.

for this reason, why not begin

Provides an explanation for initiating an action, adding justification.

in light of this, what prevents us

Emphasizes that information provides permission or enables next action

that being the case, what's the harm

Suggests an action that has no potential downsides

because of this, let's give it a try

Suggests that previously presented information makes action sound

given the above, what's to prevent us

Posits that the previously stated information clears the way for action

FAQs

How can I effectively use "thus why not" in a sentence?

Use "thus why not" to introduce a suggestion or rhetorical question that directly and logically follows from a previous statement or established fact. It emphasizes the consequential nature of the suggestion. For example, "We've identified the problem; thus why not implement the solution immediately?"

What are some stylistic alternatives to "thus why not"?

Depending on the context, you might consider alternatives like "therefore why shouldn't we", "hence why not consider", or "given this, why not try". Each subtly shifts the emphasis but maintains the consequential link. See also "accordingly why hesitate".

Is "thus why not" always appropriate, or are there situations to avoid?

"Thus why not" works best when the suggestion or question is a clear and direct consequence of what precedes it. Avoid using it if the connection is weak or unclear, as it can sound forced or illogical. In those cases, a simpler "why not" might be more suitable.

What's the difference between "thus why not" and a simple "why not"?

The addition of "thus" indicates a logical connection between the prior statement and the suggestion that follows. A simple "why not" is a more general inquiry or suggestion, without necessarily implying a direct causal relationship. Thus, "thus why not" adds emphasis.