Hence and Why uses?

Question

Can the word 'Hence' be followed by the word 'Why'?For example 'Hence why we can't go to the park today.'

Clive · Accepted Answer

Hi,

Can the word 'Hence' be followed by the word 'Why'?

For example 'Hence why we can't go to the park today.'

My dictionary offers these definitions.

Hence

1. from this time (eg two years hence)

2. a. for this reason; as a result of inference 9eg hence we seem to be wrong)

b. from this source, fact or cicrcumstance

These definitions do not fit your example.

However, you could say

'Hence this question arises: 'Why can't we go to the park today?'

Best wishes, Clive

Anonymous · Answer

The sentence in the full context reads:

'It will take three to four hours at the most to arrive in Paris due to their roads being better then roads in England. Hence why it wouldn't be a bad idea to drive straight to Paris.'

This the use of Hence why work here? And can you think of any sentence where Hence would be followed by the word why?I was under the impression Hence and Why mean the same time of thing.

Many Thanks

Clive · Answer

Hi,

The sentence in the full context reads:

'It will take three to four hours at the most to arrive in Paris due to their roads being better then roads in England. Hence why it wouldn't be a bad idea to drive straight to Paris.'

This the use of Hence why work here?

There are two ways to interpret the last sentence above.

First, as a full sentence stating a fact, with a subject/verb/object structure.

'Hence' here means 'For this reason', so you don't really need to add 'why'. Just say

eg Hence, it wouldn't be a bad idea to drive straight to Paris.

eg For this reason, it wouldn't be a bad idea to drive straight to Paris.

Second, as a phrasal structure consisting of 'Hence + a noun clause'.

Here is an examples of 'Hence + a noun'.

eg He hated her. Hence, the murder.

You can also say 'Hence + a noun clause'.

eg He hated her. Hence, why he murdered her.

(I must admit, this is a rather awkward example. I'm stretching things pretty far to try to use 'why' here. )

And can you think of any sentence where Hence would be followed by the word why? Other than as noted above, not without trying to find some very odd and unusual kind of context.

eg He loved her. Hence, why he killed her is impossible to understand.

The underlined part is a noun clause.

I was under the impression Hence and Why mean the same time of thing.

No. 'Why' does not have the definitions I gave you earlier.

And if they did mean the same thing, wouldn't that be a reason to use one or the other, but not both together?

Best wishes, Clive

Hence and Why uses?

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