Commentary

Use Subordinating Conjunctions Correctly--Especially "Because"

Subordination is a critical concept in the practice of clear technical communication. 1) Selecting the accurate subordinating conjunction (such as while, since, or because) and 2) properly locating the subordinate clause within the sentence (at the beginning, middle, or end) are crucial responsibilities of the conscientious author. This article focuses on selecting the right subordinating conjunction (locating a subordinate clause is the topic of a separate tip).

Each subordinating conjunction operates in a domain. The domains of operation are shown in the table below.

• Temporal: Indicates time, as in “after the war was won.”
• Ordinal: Indicates rank or order, as in “before the last step is completed.”
• Contrast/Compare/Reversal: Indicates differences or similarities between two or more things, as in “the race was held, although the chance of rain was high.”
• Logical: Indicates a logical relationship, as in “the car did not pass inspection because the muffler was broken.”
• Modal: Indicates the manner, as in “he asked why the chicken crossed the road.”

*Used to introduce the first of two or more alternatives.

Use conjunctions within their primary domain of operation to prevent ambiguity. But, to bring this article around to the main point, pay special attention to as and since being used in a logical domain. That is, to be straightforward, never use as or since when the context calls for because.

The misuse of since is pandemic and is the culprit of rampant misreading. Since pulls double duty: It can be used temporally (its proper use) and misused logically (as a synonym for because). When a subordinate clause is placed at the beginning of a sentence (as it commonly is), the reader does not know how the subordinating conjunction is being used until he gets a better feel for the context. That is, he has to read more (under some assumption) to fully understand the meaning of the clause. Here’s an example of this ambivalence:

The relationship between the two clauses in this sentence is definitely causal, not temporal. The battery can address power swings because the system is located at the substation. But because the conjunction is located at the beginning of the sentence, the context may come too late to help the reader decide how since is used. That is, the reader may assume that since is used in this way: From the time when the system was located at the substation until now.

If the desired function is temporal, use since, but if it is logical, use because. See how since is correctly used:

The use here is purely temporal: from the 1990s till the time when the sentence was written.

One obvious argument against my precautions is that the two words are synonymous, so leave me alone. However, if words are truly synonymous, then you can use them interchangeably. But this is not the case with since and because. You can use since for because, but you cannot use because for since. Same is true for alternate and alternative. When this non-interchangeability is the case, then use the preferred word for the meaning that you wish to express. Which is the preferred word? Your dictionary will tell you. The first meaning indicates the preferred usage. For because, the first meaning is “for the reason that.” For since, it is “from then till now.”

Always use the word because when it is warranted. Because is one of the most powerful subordinating conjunctions because it indicates cause and effect, and in research and science, cause and effect are a wonder pair. It is common for me, working as an editor, to change the word since to because many times, sometimes dozens of times, in a single report. I have nothing against since or as, as long as they are used in their proper domains.

While Is a Problem, Too

Using while indiscriminately can also cause a complication. Consider this sentence:

If you mean that the efficiency increased AT THE SAME TIME that the power decreased, then this is okay. The domain of operation is fully temporal. However, if you mean that the efficiency increased AND TO THE CONTRARY the power decreased, then use although or whereas:

If you mean that efficiency increased AND UNRELATED TO THE INCREASE IN EFFICIENCY the power decreased, then use a simple linking conjunction: