Practice Exercises
Try to complete each sentence using the appropriate cause and effect phrases.
1. The traffic was heavy, _______ we arrived late.
2. The product failed in the market _______ poor marketing strategies.
3. He studied hard for the exam, _______ he scored the highest marks in the class.
4. _______ the new policy, employees are now more motivated.
5. The project was completed ahead of schedule _______ effective time management.
Let’s review the answers and discuss why each cause and effect phrase is used.
1. The traffic was heavy, so we arrived late. (or therefore)
2. The product failed in the market due to poor marketing strategies.
3. He studied hard for the exam, so he scored the highest marks in the class. (or therefore)
4. Because of the new policy, employees are now more motivated. (or due to)
5. The project was completed ahead of schedule because of effective time management. (or as a result of)
Explanation:
So and therefore indicate the effect following the cause.
Due to and because of introduce the cause that leads to the effect.
Understanding these subtle differences will help you use them accurately in different contexts.