Another Way to Say Because of This: 20 Alternatives Explained

It is easy to fall into the habit of writing “because of this” in every paragraph. The phrase is correct and clear, but when it appears five or six times in one essay, your writing starts to feel repetitive and flat. Examiners, teachers, and managers all notice repetition, and it can quietly lower the grade your ideas deserve.

English gives you a generous set of alternatives, ranging from formal academic connectors such as “consequently” and “therefore” to everyday choices such as “so” and “that’s why”. Each one carries a slightly different tone, and some behave differently in a sentence, so picking the right one is more than a matter of swapping words.

This guide explains twenty alternatives to “because of this”, grouped by formality, with examples, punctuation rules, and the mistakes learners most commonly make.

Quick Answer

Another way to say because of this is “consequently”, “therefore”, or “as a result” in formal writing, and “so” or “that’s why” in casual writing. Use a formal connector in essays, reports, and academic texts, and a casual one in messages, emails, and conversation. Take care with punctuation, because words like “therefore” usually need a comma or semicolon nearby.

Formal Alternatives for Essays and Reports

When you write essays, reports, or anything academic, reach for these connectors. They sound polished, they fit a formal register, and examiners expect to see them. Note that these connectors highlight a result or consequence. If you need words that introduce the reason itself, see our list of other ways to say because.

• Consequently — a classic academic choice. “The factory closed in March; consequently, unemployment in the town rose sharply.”
• Therefore — signals a logical conclusion. “The data was incomplete; therefore, the researchers repeated the experiment.”
• As a result — natural at the start or in the middle of a sentence. “As a result, profits fell for the third quarter in a row.”
• Hence — concise and formal. “The roads were flooded; hence, several buses were cancelled.”
• Thus — common in academic prose. “The contract was never signed; thus, the deal fell through.”
• Accordingly — suggests action taken in response. “Sales had doubled; accordingly, the company hired twenty new staff.”
• For this reason — the closest direct swap. “For this reason, smoking is banned on the entire site.”
• As a consequence — slightly heavier and very formal. “As a consequence, the launch date was pushed back by a month.”
• On account of this — traditional and formal. “On account of this, the meeting was brought forward.”
• In consequence — used in formal and legal writing. “In consequence, several staff were transferred to other departments.”

Casual Alternatives for Everyday Writing

In messages, emails to friends, and informal writing, the formal options above would sound stiff. These everyday alternatives keep your tone relaxed while still sounding natural.

• So — the simplest option of all. “It was raining, so we stayed indoors.”
• That’s why — explains the reason for something just mentioned. “The train was delayed; that’s why I’m late.”
• For that reason — relaxed but still tidy. “For that reason, we decided to leave early.”
• Which is why — joins two clauses smoothly. “She missed the deadline, which is why she apologised.”
• This is why — firm and direct. “This is why we double-check every figure.”
• Because of that — points back at a previous event. “The shop was closed; because of that, we went elsewhere.”
• That’s the reason — conversational emphasis. “He never trained; that’s the reason he lost the match.”
• In light of this — a little more formal, but still relaxed. “In light of this, we have decided to postpone the trip.”
• And that’s why — adds a finishing touch to an explanation. “The battery was dead, and that’s why the car would not start.”
• Which explains why — gently states the link. “She worked two jobs, which explains why she was so tired.”

How to Choose the Right Alternative

Match your choice to your audience first. In an essay or report, “consequently” and “therefore” are safe bets; in a text message or a chat with friends, “so” and “that’s why” sound far more natural. Using a formal connector in casual writing, or the reverse, is one of the fastest ways to sound out of place.

Next, think about where the connector sits. Some options, such as “consequently”, “as a result”, and “for this reason”, work best at the start of a sentence. Others, such as “so” and “which is why”, are built to join two clauses inside a single sentence.

Finally, listen to the meaning. “Therefore” presents a logical conclusion, “as a result” reports a practical outcome, and “accordingly” implies that someone took action in response. The differences are small, but they are exactly the kind of detail that lifts good writing above average writing.

Punctuation Rules Worth Knowing

These connectors are not interchangeable when it comes to punctuation. Get these five rules right, and your sentences will read smoothly every time you use one of these connectors.

• At the start of a sentence, a conjunctive adverb takes a comma: “Consequently, the event was cancelled.”
• When joining two independent clauses, use a semicolon before the connector and a comma after it: “The road was closed; therefore, we took a detour.”
• “As a result” at the start of a sentence also takes a comma: “As a result, sales recovered quickly.”
• When “so” joins two full clauses, put a comma before it: “It rained, so the match was postponed.”
• A “which is why” clause follows a comma: “He forgot his ticket, which is why he turned back.”

Common Mistakes

Wrong: “Consequently of this, the factory closed.”

“Consequently” already carries the meaning of “because of this”, so adding “of this” repeats the idea. The connector stands alone.

Right: “Consequently, the factory closed.”

Wrong: “As a result of this, therefore, costs rose.”

Using two connectors for the same link is called double-marking. Choose one and commit to it.

Right: “As a result, costs rose.”

Wrong: “The train was late, therefore we missed our flight.”

“Therefore” cannot join two independent clauses with only a comma. Use a semicolon instead.

Right: “The train was late; therefore, we missed our flight.”

Wrong: “Due to this, the meeting was cancelled.”

Many style guides object to “due to” at the start of a sentence. “For this reason” is the safer choice, or move the phrase to later in the sentence.

Right: “For this reason, the meeting was cancelled.”

Wrong: starting three paragraphs in a row with “Because of this”.

Repetition is not a grammar error, but it weakens an essay. Rotate through “for this reason”, “consequently”, and “as a result” instead.

Right: “Because of this, the costs rose. Consequently, the project stalled. As a result, the deadline moved.”

Frequently Asked Questions

Is “because of this” grammatically correct?

Yes. “Because of this” is perfectly correct English, and there is nothing wrong with using it. The problem is repetition: using it in every paragraph makes writing feel flat, which is why learning alternatives is so useful for stronger, more varied writing.

What is the most formal alternative to “because of this”?

“Consequently” and “therefore” are the most formal choices and are standard in academic writing. “Thus” is also very formal, though it appears more often in academic prose than in business reports.

Can I start a sentence with “therefore” or “consequently”?

Yes. Both work well at the start of a sentence, followed by a comma: “Therefore, the results were inconclusive.” This is one of the most common ways academic writers link ideas between sentences.

What is a good casual alternative to “because of this”?

“So” is the simplest choice, and “that’s why” is ideal when you are explaining something you have just mentioned: “The shop was closed; that’s why we went elsewhere.”

Found this guide useful? Keep building your connector vocabulary with our guide to another way to say as a result and our list of other ways to say however — both are packed with natural examples you can use straight away.