Hence and fragment

Hi,

I am having trouble understanding 'hence' in sentence fragments. I'll give an example:

I fought in three wars; hence my aversion for violence.

Here 'hence my aversion for violence' is a fragment. So would it be better to have a semicolon preceding it instead of a comma? Is there another way?


I'd just use a comma.

I wouldn't call it a fragmen

Thanks, Clive. But is it right to have a comma precede hence? I thought 'so' and 'thus' can have commas. Can you please clarify?

Hi,

But is it right to have a comma precede hence? I thought 'so' and 'thus' can have commas. Can you please clarify?

Sure, it's fine. A comma reflects a place where you'd pause in saying that sentence.

I'd say I fought in three wars

Then I'd pause to let the listener think about that remarkable fact.

Then I'd say hence my aversion for violen

Thanks again, Clive. Can one also say: I went home early, so/hence I was able to watch TV.

Can 'hence' be used in the same way as 'so' in such sentences?

Hi,

Can one also say: I went home early, so/hence I was able to watch TV.

Can 'hence' be used in the same way as 'so' in such sentences?


Yes. But, generally speaking, 'A hence B' usually suggests that the reader will have to think about it for a moment to see why B follows from A. The reader will have to go through more of a mental process.



Cliv