Heretofore vs. Hitherto

Attribute	Heretofore	Hitherto
Meaning	Up to this time	Up to now
Formality	More formal	Less formal
Usage	Less common	More common
Origin	Old English	Middle English

Definition

Heretofore and hitherto are both adverbs that are used to refer to something that has happened up to a particular point in time. Heretofore is often used in legal or formal contexts to indicate something that has occurred before a specified time, while hitherto is more commonly used in everyday language to mean up to this time or until now.

Usage

Heretofore is typically used in a more formal or legal context, such as in contracts or official documents, to indicate that something has been true up to a certain point. For example, "The parties heretofore agreed to the terms of the contract." On the other hand, hitherto is used more casually in everyday speech to refer to something that has been true up to the present moment. For example, "Hitherto, we have always celebrated Thanksgiving with a big family dinner."

Origin

The word heretofore comes from Middle English, where "hereto" meant "to this" and "fore" meant "before." Therefore, heretofore literally means "before this." On the other hand, hitherto comes from Old English, where "hider" meant "hither" or "to this place" and "to" meant "until." So, hitherto literally means "until now" or "up to this point."

Formality

As mentioned earlier, heretofore is generally considered more formal than hitherto. It is often used in legal documents, contracts, or official statements to indicate that something has been true up to a certain point. Hitherto, on the other hand, is used in everyday speech and writing to refer to something that has been true up to the present moment. It is less formal and more commonly used in casual conversations.

Context

Heretofore is often used in a more specific or precise context, where the exact timing or occurrence of an event is important. It is used to indicate that something has been true or has occurred up to a particular point in time. Hitherto, on the other hand, is used in a more general context to refer to something that has been true up to the present moment, without specifying a particular time or event.

Examples

• Heretofore, the company had always followed a strict dress code policy.
• Hitherto, we had never encountered such a challenging problem in our research.
• Heretofore, the defendant had maintained his innocence throughout the trial.
• Hitherto, the team had always been successful in their fundraising efforts.

Conclusion

In conclusion, heretofore and hitherto are both adverbs that are used to refer to something that has happened up to a particular point in time. Heretofore is more formal and specific, often used in legal or official contexts to indicate that something has been true before a specified time. Hitherto, on the other hand, is more casual and general, used in everyday speech to mean up to this time or until now. Both words have their own unique attributes and are used in different contexts depending on the formality and specificity required.