By that rationale vs Therefore

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

By that rationale

Formal Beyond 10,000 (less common)

Therefore

Formal Top 2,000 (common) B1 adverb

Most common: Therefore

	By that rationale	Therefore
Pronunciation	🇬🇧 //baɪ ðæt ˈræʃəˌnæl// 🇺🇸 //baɪ ðæt ˈræʃəˌnæl//	🇬🇧 /["/ˈðeəfɔː(r)/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/ˈðerfɔːr/"]/
Meaning	For that reason or explanation.	For that reason; as a result.
Example	By that rationale, we should also reconsider the budget allocations.	He's only 17 and therefore not eligible to vote.
Register	Formal	Formal
How common	Beyond 10,000 (less common)	Top 2,000 (common)
CEFR level	-	B1
Part of speech		adverb
Collocations	by that rationale, use that rationale, consider that rationale	therefore concluded, therefore it follows, therefore we can, therefore you should, therefore the result
Antonyms	-	however, nevertheless, nonetheless
Common mistakes	Used in informal settings, which sounds awkward., Changed 'rationale' to 'rational' incorrectly., Omitted the phrase 'by that' when explaining reasoning.	'Therefore' is sometimes confused with 'therefor', which has a different meaning., Learners may use 'therefore' to start a sentence in informal contexts, which can sound awkward., 'Therefore' may be incorrectly placed in a sentence away from the cause or condition.
Usage notes	Used in formal discussions to explain reasoning. Avoid in casual conversations.	Use 'therefore' to connect ideas in formal writing or speech. It’s less common in everyday conversation and can sound stiff. Avoid it in casual contexts.

See it in real clips

- But a dog's got personality. Personality goes a long way. - Ah, so, by that rationale,

By that rationale

Frequently asked questions: By that rationale vs Therefore

What's the difference between By that rationale and Therefore?

By that rationale: For that reason or explanation. Therefore: For that reason; as a result.

Which is more common: By that rationale and Therefore?

Therefore is the most common in everyday English.

Can you show an example of each?

By that rationale: By that rationale, we should also reconsider the budget allocations. Therefore: He's only 17 and therefore not eligible to vote.

Can I use By that rationale and Therefore interchangeably?

Not always. By that rationale and Therefore are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.