Because vs Since
 

Difference between because and since is a bit tricky to understand. Because and since are two words that are often considered wrongly as words denoting same meaning. Actually, they are not so. They, in fact, denote two different meanings and connotations. The word because is used as a conjunction, and hence, it cannot be used in the beginning of a sentence. On the other hand, the word since can be used in the beginning of a sentence as since is used as a preposition. This is one of the main differences between the two words. It is interesting to note that the word since is used in the middle of a sentence too. In other words, it can be used as a conjunction to separate two sentences. Thus, it is to be understood that both the words, namely, because and since are used as conjunctions but there is a difference.

What does Because mean?

The word because is used as a conjunction in the sense of ‘for the reason that.’ Take a look at the two sentences given below.

Lucy did not write the examination well because she did not prepare well.

Francis did not buy the book because he had no money.

In both the sentences, the word because is used as conjunction to join two separate sentences. It is interesting to note that the word because normally answers the question ‘why’ and hence, you can see that the first sentence answers the question why Lucy did not write the examination. The second sentence answers the question why Francis did not buy the book. That means here because is used in the sense ‘for the reason that.’ This is an important observation to make while using the word because.

What does Since mean?

On the other hand, the word since is used as a conjunction as well as a preposition. As a conjunction, since means ‘because, or for the reason that.’ As a preposition, it is used in the sense of ‘from’ to indicate a time period. Observe the two sentences given below.

Robert was on leave yesterday since he suffered from fever.

Lucy could not bring the book since she lost it.

In both the sentences, the word since is used in a way to explain the reason behind a happening. That means, here, since is used as a conjunction in the sense of ‘for the reason that.’ In the first sentence given above, the word ‘since’ explains the reason why Robert was on leave and, in the second sentence, the word ‘since’ explains the reason why Lucy could not bring the book.

As a matter of fact, the word since is sometimes used in the sense of ‘from’ as in the sentence ‘she has been ill since last week’. In this sentence, the word ‘since’ is used in the sense of ‘from’, and it says that ‘she has been ill from last week’. The word ‘since’ is often used in letter writing because most letters are descriptive in nature with reasons being cited for happenings.

What is the difference between Because and Since?

• Because is used in the sense of ‘for the reason that.’

• The word because is used as a conjunction, and hence, it cannot be used in the beginning of a sentence.

• On the other hand, since is also used as a conjunction in the sense of ‘for the reason that.’ In other words, since, as a conjunction, means ‘because’.

• However, the word since can be used in the beginning of a sentence as since is used as a preposition too.

• As a preposition, it is used in the sense ‘from’ to indicate a time period.

These are the differences between the two words, namely, because and since.

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