What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
so
Example
I didn't study for the exam, so I failed. [so: conjunction]
Example
It was raining heavily, so we decided to stay indoors. [so: adverb]
Example
So, that's why I think we should go with option B. [so: adverb]
thus
Example
The company has been losing money for years, thus it was forced to lay off employees. [thus: adverb]
Example
The bridge was poorly constructed, thus it collapsed during the storm. [thus: conjunction]
Example
We have analyzed the data and thus concluded that our hypothesis was correct. [thus: adverb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
So is more common in everyday language, while thus is more commonly used in formal writing or academic contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between so and thus?
Thus is generally considered more formal than so, and is often used in academic or professional writing to convey a sense of authority or expertise.
