Can you use since for because

These mavens asked a solid question that is, nonetheless, mostly irrelevant in the real world. Such instances of ambiguity are few and far between in actual use: sentences tend to appear surrounded by other sentences, and this context often makes it clear whether the writer is using the causal since or the time-related since. We've used a few sinces here, and it's probable you didn't stumble over them at all.

There is a subtle difference between since and because , however: since expresses a milder degree of causality than because does. Since doesn't get all the ire.

The conjunctive as gets dumped on even more. In the causal sense, as should generally be avoided because not as!

Sound advice. And yet our research shows that, in real life, conjunctive uses of as are rarely confusing. Just like since , the conjunctive as rarely appears in a sentence that is contextless, and the context can often help disambiguate the meaning of as.

Here are some real-world examples of the conjunctive as. See which ones trip you up:. Get or go? Grateful or thankful? Hear or listen to? High or tall?

Historic or historical? House or home? How is …? If or when? If or whether? Ill or sick? Imply or infer? In the way or on the way?

Late or lately? Lay or lie? Lend or borrow? Less or fewer? Look at , see or watch? Low or short? Man , mankind or people? Maybe or may be? Maybe or perhaps? Nearest or next? Never or not … ever? Nice or sympathetic?

No doubt or without doubt? No or not? Nowadays , these days or today? Open or opened? Opportunity or possibility? Opposite or in front of? Other , others , the other or another? Out or out of? Permit or permission? Person , persons or people? Pick or pick up? Play or game? Politics , political , politician or policy?

Price or prize? Principal or principle? Quiet or quite? Raise or rise? Remember or remind? Right or rightly? Rob or steal? Say or tell? So that or in order that? Sometimes or sometime? Sound or noise? Speak or talk? Such or so? Towards or toward? Wait or wait for? Easy enough, right? While you may not make the Grammar Gods furious if you use since or because the wrong way, knowing when to use these commonly confused words correctly is just one of the many ways you can make your writing that much better.

Once you understand the since meaning and how to use since in a sentence, things start to become clear. Let us know in the comments! Your email address will not be published. Let us save you time and money by creating the content you need! Give us your email to learn more. Commonly Confused Words: Because vs.

Often, this link is due to cause and effect. Contrary to common belief, it is perfectly all right to begin a sentence with because as long as it is a complete sentence and you construct it carefully. The fragment Because I am cold is not a complete sentence, but Because I am cold, I will wear a sweater would work just fine. What does since mean? Since is also a conjunction that expresses a logical link between two ideas or events. In this way, it can sometimes be a synonym of because.

Since typically describes a weaker or indirect cause and effect link, like in the sentences here:.