What's the Difference Between 'Because' and 'Since'?
In this blog post we look at when to use because and when to use since.
'Because' or 'Since'?
"Because" and "since" are two words that are often confused because they can both be used to introduce a reason or explanation. However, they are used in different contexts and have slightly different meanings.
"Because" is a conjunction that is used to introduce a reason or explanation for something. It is used to show the cause and effect relationship between two events or actions.
For example: "I'm tired because I stayed up late last night." In this sentence, "because" is used to explain the reason for the speaker's tiredness.
"Since" is also a conjunction that is used to introduce a reason or explanation for something, but it can also be used to show a relationship between two events or actions that are connected in time.
For example: "I'm tired since I stayed up late last night." In this sentence, "since" is used to show that the speaker's tiredness is a result of staying up late the previous night.
"Since" can also be used as a preposition to indicate a point in time.
For example: "I've been waiting here since 9:00 AM." In this sentence, "since" is used to indicate the starting point of a period of time.
Here are some examples to illustrate the difference between the words "because" and "since":
Because
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I'm late because I overslept. (The reason for being late is because of oversleeping.)
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I can't come to the party because I have to work. (The reason for not being able to come to the party is because of work.)
Since (as a conjunction introducing a reason or explanation)
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I'm worried that I’ll become sick since I ate that sushi. (The reason for feeling sick is because of eating the sushi.)
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Since I’m working from home these days, I'm having trouble getting out of bed in the morning. (The reason for having trouble getting out of bed is because of working from home.)
Since (as a preposition indicating a point in time)
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I've been waiting for the bus since 8 o'clock. (The time frame for waiting for the bus is since 8 o'clock.)
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I've been studying for the exam since last night. (The time frame for studying is since last night.)
Examples of Because in a Sentence
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I'm going to the store because I need to buy milk.
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I can't come to the party because I have to work.
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He didn't want to go to the beach because it was too cold.
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She decided to go back to school because she wanted to pursue a new career.
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I'm feeling tired because I didn't sleep well last night.
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He got in trouble because he broke the rules.
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She didn't want to go to the movie because it looked boring.
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I'm going to the gym because I want to stay fit.
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He didn't get the job because he wasn't qualified.
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She decided to move because she wanted a change of scenery.
Examples of Since in a Sentence
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I haven't been able to sleep well since I have a lot on my mind. (conjunction meaning because)
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She's been feeling under the weather since she caught a cold last week. (conjunction meaning because)
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He's been struggling in school since he's having trouble understanding the material. (conjunction meaning because)
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I've been feeling lonely since my friends have all moved away. (conjunction meaning because)
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We've been having financial problems since we lost our main source of income. (conjunction meaning because)
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Since we last spoke, I've made a lot of progress on my project. (preposition indicating a point in time)
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Since I started working at this company, I've learned so much. (preposition indicating a point in time)
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Since I moved to this city, I've made some great friends. (preposition indicating a point in time)
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Since I started practicing yoga, I've noticed a lot of improvements in my flexibility and stress levels. (preposition indicating a point in time)
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Since I got a new phone, I've been using it nonstop. (preposition indicating a point in time)
