hence

Question

Hi,I was taking an online test, and I had a problem with the answer of that. Would you please explain it to me?The students were well-prepared for the exam, _____________ their high scores.The answer is "hence". I haven't seen that usage, so I took a look at a dictionary (the dictionary's example : They grew up in the Sudan; hence their interest in Nubian art.). But still I see hence as words like "therefore" or "so", and a bit formal. Where we usually use hence like that?

Clive · Accepted Answer

Hi,

The basic structure is sentence comma hence noun phrase.

It's used in cases where the noun phrase is a definite result of what is said in the sentence.
eg She kissed him, hence his smile.
eg He criticized my grammar, hence his broken nose.

It's a sign that you are an educated person.

Clive

Paeez · Answer

Thank you dear Clive,

I'm still not confident enough to use that structure, so I try to use that structure, and I would appreciate it if you could correct my understanding.

1. She sold the car to Jim, hence Jim's car.
2. A digital recorder omit some frequencies, hence not the same voice.
3. He is CEO of a big firm company, hence personal driver.
4. The teacher covered all subjects, hence no excuse for the exam.
5. It's a confidential letter, hence signed and sealed.
6. The machine is not working, hence no money.
7. His father paid his tuition plus all his life cost, hence free of charges.

When I was writing those examples, unconsciously I wanted to use present perfect. Should it be only simple tenses or not?

Thanks.

Clive · Answer

HI,

I'm still not confident enough to use that structure, so I try to use that structure, and I would appreciate it if you could correct my understanding.

"The cause and the result" have to be very clear. Yours are not.

1. She sold the car to Jim, hence Jim's car. The result of the car is the car? Makes no sense.
2. A digital recorder omits some frequencies, hence not the same voice. No. Whose voice? The same as what? The meaning is not clear enough.
3. He is CEO of a big firm company, hence a personal driver. Doesn't sound good. Maybe it makes me wonder for a split second whether the CEO is a personal driver.
4. The teacher covered all subjects, hence no excuse for the exam. Not a clear meaning. Too much is left unsaid. You mean 'hence the students had no excuse for failing the exam'.
5. It's a confidential letter, hence signed and sealed. But why mention 'signed'?
6. The machine is not working, hence no money. OK, if I know you mean an ATM.
7. His father paid his tuition plus all his life cost, hence free of charges. No. What was free of charges?

When I was writing those examples, unconsciously I wanted to use present perfect. Should it be only simple tenses or not?
No.
eg I was sunbathing, hence my tan.
eg I have cut my finger, hence the blood on the floor.

Clive

Paeez · Answer

Thank you again,

I guess it's getting clearer. My mistake was that I should make it clear for listeners or readers that what I was referring.

Would you please check these too? I hope you don't mind too many questions of mine.

1. The electricity voltage isn't stable, hence many damages on electrical devices.
2. The teacher's lecture was in details and comprehensive, hence no question for any of students.
3. His Wi-Fi network in his home has no password, hence many unauthorized access on the network for free internet.
4. My mother has been being taught cooking since she was twelve, hence her perfected cuisine.

Would you please explain that in what positions we usually use that structure? Speaking/Writing, Formal/not formal, Scientific Essays or Historical or non-technical text, I am asking this because I am student of engineering, but in the papers I have read I haven't bumped into (I'm not sure "bump into" is accustomed for non-human things) the structure, furthermore I have a feeling that it's helps with the rhythm for literary texts rather than logical consequences. Please correct me.

Thanks,

Clive · Answer

Hi,

I guess it's getting clearer. My mistake was that I should make it clear for listeners or readers that what I was referring.

Would you please check these too? I hope you don't mind too many questions of mine.

You are right in thinking that this would be more often found in literary writing, rather than in technical text. It's a stylish kind of structure. That's really my main objection to most of the examples below. Some of them are not wrong, but they just don't sound good to me.

1. The electricity voltage isn't stable, hence a lot of damage on electrical devices. Too technical
2. The teacher's lecture was in details and comprehensive, hence no question from any of the students.
3. His Wi-Fi network in his home has no password, hence a lot of unauthorized access on the network for free internet.
4. My mother has been being taught cooking since she was twelve, hence her perfected cuisine.

Would you please explain that in what positions we usually use that structure? Speaking/Writing, Formal/not formal, Scientific Essays or Historical or non-technical text, I am asking this because I am student of engineering, but in the papers I have read I haven't bumped into (I'm not sure "bump into" is accustomed for non-human things) the structure, furthermore I have a feeling that it's helps with the rhythm for literary texts rather than logical consequences. Please correct me.

As a very broad guideline, don't use this structure in technical or mundane writing.

Clive

Paeez · Answer

Thank you kindly, dear Clive.

hence

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