Thereby vs. Thus

Attribute	Thereby	Thus
Definition	As a result of that	As a result or consequence of something
Usage	Formal	Formal
Position in Sentence	Can be used at the beginning or middle of a sentence	Typically used at the beginning of a sentence
Emphasis	Emphasizes the action or event that led to the result	Emphasizes the result or consequence

Definition

Thereby and thus are both adverbs that are used to indicate a result or consequence. They are often used to show the relationship between two actions or events. While they are similar in meaning, there are subtle differences in how they are used.

Usage

Thereby is typically used to indicate the means by which something is accomplished. It is often used to show the method or process that leads to a certain outcome. For example, "She saved money every month, thereby allowing her to buy a new car." On the other hand, thus is used to show a conclusion or a result that follows logically from the previous action. For example, "He studied hard and got good grades, thus securing a spot in the top university."

Formality

Thereby is considered to be more formal in usage compared to thus. It is often used in academic or professional writing to show a cause and effect relationship. Thus, on the other hand, is more commonly used in everyday speech and writing. It is considered to be less formal and can be used in a variety of contexts.

Clarity

Thereby is often used to make a connection between two actions more explicit. It helps to clarify the relationship between the cause and the effect. Thus, on the other hand, is used to show a more general conclusion or result. It may not always provide as much detail or specificity as thereby.

Conciseness

Thereby is sometimes seen as more wordy or verbose compared to thus. It can add extra words to a sentence in order to make the relationship between actions more clear. Thus, on the other hand, is often used to make a more concise statement about the result or conclusion that follows from a previous action.

Examples

• Thereby: "She practiced every day, thereby improving her skills."
• Thus: "He missed the bus, thus arriving late to work."

Conclusion

While both thereby and thus are used to indicate a result or consequence, they have subtle differences in usage, formality, clarity, and conciseness. Understanding these differences can help writers choose the right word for their intended meaning and tone.