Basic Details
Word: Thereby
Part of Speech: Adverb
Meaning: By doing that, or as a result of that. It links an action to what it leads to, mostly in formal writing.
Synonyms: thus, hence, so
How to Spell Thereby
Syllables: there - by
Tricky part: It begins with there, not their or ther, and it ends with a plain by, with no e after the y.
Watch out for: therby, therebye, thairby
Memory tip: Nothing is dropped and nothing is added: write the whole of there, then the whole of by.
Idioms and Phrases
- thereby hangs a tale: there is an interesting story behind that Example: "Grandpa's walking stick has a silver tip, and thereby hangs a tale."
Usage Examples
Example 1: Ravi practised his run-up every evening and thereby added speed to his bowling.
Example 2: The council planted neem trees along the road, thereby giving walkers some shade.
Example 3: She finished the project early, thereby leaving a whole day for revision.
Fun Fact
Thereby belongs to a family of joined words built on there, such as thereafter, therein and thereupon, most of which now turn up mainly in formal or legal writing.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Makeup
Choose the correctly spelt compound word:
a) thereby
b) whereever
c) nevertheles
d) theirafter
Show answer
a) thereby. Thereafter starts with there, wherever has only one e in the middle, and nevertheless ends in a double s.
Word Connection
Choose the synonym of the word thereby as it is used in the sentence:
The new bridge cut the trip across the river by half, thereby saving the villagers hours every week.
a) although
b) thus
c) unless
d) besides
Show answer
b) thus. Thus also shows a result; although, besides and unless join ideas in other ways.
Word Cookie
Find the extra letter in the word:
thereeby
a) e
b) h
c) r
d) b
Show answer
a) e. There ends in a single e before by, so one of the two e's in a row has to go.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Choose the best ending: Sana switched off the fan as she left the room, thereby ____.
a) because it was hot
b) saving electricity
c) the room was empty
d) and her brother
Show answer
b) saving electricity
2. Which word is built the same way as thereby, from there plus a short word?
a) theory
b) thorough
c) therein
d) thermal
Show answer
c) therein
