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what is the difference between so and therefore ???

'So' and 'Therefore' have implicitly the same meaning, however their usage differs in terms of the situations they represent, and also the fact that one can be used for conjunction while the other cannot.

Eg: He loved her, so he married her

In this case so is also a conjunctive.

However, if we had to write the same sentence with the use of therefore, it would be:

He loved her. Therefore he married her.

Hence one can see how therefore cannot work as a conjunctive much like so, if we incorporate therefore in the same sentence it would be.

He loved her, and therefore he married her. (wherein and is the conjunctive)

Another factor to consider is that therefore is used for formal references and inferences, whilst so cannot be used in the same context.

 

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So and Therefore are two words that are often confused as words that denote the same meaning. Actually, they are different words with different connotations. The word so is used in the sense of as a result as in the sentences:

1. He is very good in studies. So he secured the first position in his class.

2. She is wise. So she is liked by others.

In both the sentence, you can find that the word so is used in the sense of as a result and hence, the meaning of the first sentence would be he is very good in studies and as a result he secured the first position in his class, and the meaning of the second sentence would be she is wise and as a result she is liked by others.

On the other hand, the word therefore is used in the sense of that is why or as a consequence as in the sentences

1. He is very mischievous. Therefore he was punished.

2. She has a very good memory. Therefore she is right always.

In both the sentences, you can find that the word therefore is used in the sense of that is why and hence, the meaning of the first sentence would be he is very mischievous and that is why he was punished, and the meaning of the second sentence would be she has a very good memory and that is why she is right always.

It is interesting to note that the word so is sometimes used in the sense of very as in the sentence she is so good in her studies. In this sentence the word so is used in the sense of very. On the other hand, the word therefore is generally used to sum up observations.

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