KathySteinemann.com: Free Resources for Writers and Poets

Word lists, cheat sheets, and sometimes irreverent reviews of writing rules. kathy steinemann is the author of the writer's lexicon series..

another term for because in essay

30+ Alternatives for “Because”: A Word List for Writers

Alternatives for Because

Because Overuse: A Challenge to Overcome

Readers may raise their eyebrows if they encounter multiple repetitions of because within a short passage . Although finding replacements for a building block of the English language is tricky, it’s not impossible.

This post contains more than thirty alternatives for because.

Does This News Item Irritate You?

Because of the prevailing political climate, those in office avoid encounters with the press. They say it’s because of busy schedules, but their constituents say it’s because the politicians don’t want to stand up for “what’s right.”

Can we rewrite to exclude because ?

With the prevailing political climate, those in office avoid the press. They blame busy schedules, but their constituents disagree, accusing the politicians of not standing up for “what’s right.”

The succinct version relays the same message in a more engaging manner.

Let’s Review a Statement Made by an Ecological Group

Because of GMOs (genetically modified organisms), humans may one day find themselves facing extinction. We need to act now, because waiting is not an option, because procrastination puts us and future generations at risk, because soon every crop and every animal species used for food will have been genetically modified. Do you want to tell your children and your grandchildren that you didn’t act because you were afraid of the GMO bullies?

Can we lower the word count and strengthen the message like we did in the previous example?

GMOs (genetically modified organisms) may one day cause the extinction of humans. Soon, every crop and animal species used for food will have been genetically modified. Prompt action is crucial; procrastination endangers us and future generations. Do you want to tell your children and grandchildren that your fear of the GMO bullies resulted in apathy rather than action?

Fewer words. More direct message. Engaged readers.

However, some writers might prefer the repetitions in the sentence that begins with We need to act now . Like the lyrics of “We’re Off to See the Wizard,” which repeats because multiple times as an intentional literary device, the sentence could function as it stands.

Wilbur Faces a Smelly Dilemma

Because Wilbur’s cologne had offended the noses of all partygoers in the banquet hall, he slipped into the men’s bathroom for a quick wash. Truth be told, he looked forward to removing the cologne from his pits, because it burned. He stripped to the waist. Unfortunately, his efforts were thwarted somewhat, because he couldn’t find any soap. Because of that, he splashed generous quantities of plain water over his upper body.

When he returned to the banquet hall a few minutes later, he couldn’t figure out why everyone was gawking at him. Until he looked down and realized it was because his crotch was dripping wet.

Poor Wilbur. Can we tighten the narrative?

Wilbur’s cologne had offended the noses of all partygoers in the banquet hall. No problem. He slipped into the men’s bathroom for a quick wash, looking forward to removing the burning cologne from his pits. After stripping to the waist, he couldn’t find any soap. Oh well, plain water is almost as good.

When he returned to the banquet hall a few minutes later, he couldn’t figure out why everyone was gawking at him. Until he glanced down and realized his crotch was soaked.

Which version do you prefer? Note the addition of two internal-dialogue snippets.

Perhaps a Colon, Semicolon, Em Dash, or Period Would Solve the Problem

She had no reason to be disappointed , because he showed up on time.

She had no reason to be disappointed: He showed up on time.

She walked to work because her car was out of gas.

She walked to work; her car was out of gas.

I need to go to the meeting because my boss isn’t available.

I need to go to the meeting — my boss isn’t available.

He was confused because the test didn’t make any sense.

He was confused . The test didn’t make any sense.

Direct Replacements for Because

My preference for replacing because, or short phrases including it, is to reword. However, the following suggestions will help if you don’t have the time or desire for more extensive edits. Beware: Some alternatives will contribute to word bloat . Others might be best suited for dialogue, awkward narrators, or period fiction.

as Because As the woman had no friends, she walked alone.

as a consequence Obesity has soared in many countries because as a consequence of poor diet and lack of exercise.

as a result Because As a result of his impudence, the teacher gave him a detention.

as long as Because As long as she studied, she received excellent marks.

as things go Because As things go , if he thinks he can win, he will.

being that (not my favorite phrase, folks) Because Being that he arrived late, he missed the appetizer tray.

by reason He was found not guilty because by reason of insanity.

by virtue He received a medal because by virtue of his bravery.

consequently She works out every day. Because of that Consequently , she is well-toned and healthy.

considering Because of Considering the extenuating circumstances, I will forgive his absence.

due to Because of Due to a tornado warning, everyone evacuated the fairgrounds.

for He loved her because of for her enthusiasm and loyalty.

for the reason that (another phrase I dislike) The process is tedious, because for the reason that every step must be verified by three people.

for the sake The government must reduce its spending because for the sake of the economy.

forasmuch as The stable boy readied the horse and carriage because forasmuch as the mistress desired to drive into town. (Archaic; useful for historical novels. Forasmuch as also appears in some legal documents.)

given that Because Given that herbicides were banned, the landscaper had to search for other means of weed control.

in light Because In light of her excellent references, we decided to hire her.

in that His essay was believable, because in that he supported his arguments with comprehensive data.

inasmuch as Because Inasmuch as the patient had contracted a contagious infection, visitors were required to wear gowns and masks.

in view Because In view of the overwhelming evidence that pollution causes so many deaths, the government passed a new Clean Air Act.

in view of the fact that Because In view of the fact that nobody RSVPed to the invitations, the organizers cancelled the concert.

knowing as how (yet another iffy phrase) He decided to pack his bags and leave, because knowing as how she didn’t want him around anymore.

now that We can begin the staff meeting because now that the boss has arrived.

on account He can’t run the marathon because on account of his sprained ankle.

on the grounds that We are rejecting your story because on the grounds that it doesn’t fit the theme of our publication.

out She trembled because out of fear .

owing to Because of Owing to her poor interpersonal skills, she was demoted.

owing to the fact that Because Owing to the fact that a violent storm swept over the stadium, the game was cancelled.

seeing Because of Seeing her anger, he decided to keep his mouth shut.

seeing that Because Seeing that the woodpecker had hammered on the window every morning for a week, she set up a motion-sensitive alarm to scare it away.

since Because Since the warp drive was damaged, they stopped for repairs.

so (often requires rewording) Because my tooth ached, I booked a dental appointment. My tooth ached, so I booked a dental appointment.

thanks to Because of Thanks to his diligence, the project was completed ahead of schedule.

therefore I think; because of that therefore I am.

through Because of Through union bargaining, the employees received a 5 percent raise.

Exercises to Test Your Because -Cognition

Remove most instances of because by substitution or rewording.

Millie knew she’d never pass the biology test, because she hadn’t studied enough. But the lack of studying wasn’t because of anything she had done. It was because she was exhausted. Every night for two weeks, her sleep had been disturbed because Mr. Clarke’s dogs barked. And barked. And barked. It isn’t fair. Why should I fail just because the idiot mutts next door can’t keep their yaps shut?

Suggested solution

Millie knew she’d never pass the biology test — she hadn’t studied enough. But the lack of studying wasn’t her fault: She was exhausted. Every night for two weeks, Mr. Clarke’s dogs had barked. And barked. And barked. It isn’t fair. Why should I fail just because the idiot mutts next door can’t keep their yaps shut?

Notes: Adjustments in punctuation eliminate two instances of because . The colon in the edited version could have been changed into a semicolon, with She becoming she — or two sentences could have been created by replacing the colon with a period. Rewording removes all other repetitions, except for one in Millie’s internal monologue. Leaving it in makes her thoughts seem more natural.

Because of antibiotic abuse, many bacteria have become resistant to even the most powerful drugs. Because of this, pharmaceutical companies have been asked to produce new drugs. However, because of many factors, including insufficient financial incentives for research and development, the number of new drugs entering the market is inadequate.

Antibiotic abuse has facilitated significant bacteria resistance to even the most powerful drugs. Health professionals and governments have asked pharmaceutical companies to produce new drugs. However, many factors, including insufficient financial incentives for research and development, have resulted in an inadequate number of new drugs entering the market.

Notes: Edits are straightforward, replacing instances of because rather than rewording sentences . Note the reduction in passive voice.

Len bought the biggest, most expensive TV he could find: one with all the bells and whistles. Because he could afford it. Because he deserved it. But as he was setting it up, he discovered that he couldn’t read the instructions because they were written in what looked like Cantonese.

Undaunted by this hiccup, he called the local Chinese restaurant. Unfortunately, he had a problem communicating with the person who answered the phone, because she spoke in broken English with a heavy Cantonese accent. Because he couldn’t make her understand what he wanted, he decided to drive to the restaurant, instructions in hand. When he showed her the instructions and explained via a combination of sign language and English, she laughed at him.

“You no understand,” she said.

“Exactly. I can’t understand the words because they’re Cantonese.”

“No, no, no, you no understand words because they Japanese and you hold page upside down.”

Len bought the biggest, most expensive TV he could find: one with all the bells and whistles. He could afford it. He deserved it. But as he was setting it up, he discovered he couldn’t read the instructions, which were written in what looked like Cantonese.

Undaunted by this hiccup, he called the local Chinese restaurant. Unfortunately, the woman who answered the phone spoke in broken English with a heavy Cantonese accent. She had no idea what he wanted.

So Len drove to the restaurant , instructions in hand . When he showed her the instructions and explained via a combination of sign language and English, she laughed at him.

“You no understand,” she said .

Notes: Extraneous instances of because in the exercise are gone. No need to have Len decide to drive to the restaurant. In the solution he drives there, period, without the instructions in hand ; steering would be difficult if he’s clutching something while trying to navigate. Once again, dialogue remains the same.

Are You Interested in More Word Lists and Writing Tips?

If you haven’t done so already, please subscribe to my blog . (The link will take you to the subscription widget at the top left of this post.)

I usually post two to five times monthly, and you can discontinue your subscription at any time.

Please don't be shy. Leave a reply. Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Notify me of new posts by email.

4 thoughts on “ 30+ Alternatives for “Because”: A Word List for Writers ”

Hi Kathy, great piece as usual. However, I disagree with the GMO example. That paragraph intentionally uses the repetition of ‘because’ as a tool to drum home the point. I wouldn’t necessarily want to change this, especially if it’s for spoken delivery.

Happy blogging, Sandi (or Nyamazela if you’re following my blog).

Thanks for stopping by, Sandi.

The rule of threes works well for many pieces, and as long as readers are happy with what they see, the writer can be too.

Thanks for that. I have you book, The Writers’ Lexicon and it’s most useful.

Thanks, Vivienne! If all goes well, I’ll have a second volume of Lexicon ready for release early in 2018.

  • Link to facebook
  • Link to linkedin
  • Link to twitter
  • Link to youtube
  • Writing Tips

Other Ways of Saying ‘Because’

2-minute read

  • 16th December 2015

If English is not your first language , you may not know that there are lots of words that you can use instead of ‘because’. This is important, since using ‘because’ too often in your written work can make it seem stilted or repetitive.

By comparison, varying word choice can make your work easier to read and more engaging. Today, we’re going to share several synonyms for ‘because’ that will make your work look more academic .

Synonyms for ‘Because’

Let’s start with an example sentence:

Marjorie was angry because the moles kept digging up her garden.

Here , we could use several words and phrases instead of ‘ because ‘:

Marjorie was angry due to the moles that kept digging up her garden.

Marjorie was angry on account of the moles that were digging up her garden.

Notice that you need to adjust the sentence slightly to suit the alternative words used.

Find this useful?

Subscribe to our newsletter and get writing tips from our editors straight to your inbox.

Other Options

Another way to get round the use of ‘because’ is to rearrange the sentence:

The way the moles kept digging up Marjorie’s garden made her very angry.

Here, we have reversed the elements of the sentence and used the word ‘made’ to indicate the relationship between Marjorie’s anger and the moles in her garden. This can be a good way of varying your sentence structure.

You could also try the following variations:

The moles dug up Marjorie’s garden, making her very angry.

The moles dug up Marjorie’s garden and made her very angry.

The moles dug up Marjorie’s garden, which made her very angry.

Share this article:

' src=

Post A New Comment

Get help from a language expert. Try our proofreading services for free.

3-minute read

How to Insert a Text Box in a Google Doc

Google Docs is a powerful collaborative tool, and mastering its features can significantly enhance your...

How to Cite the CDC in APA

If you’re writing about health issues, you might need to reference the Centers for Disease...

5-minute read

Six Product Description Generator Tools for Your Product Copy

Introduction If you’re involved with ecommerce, you’re likely familiar with the often painstaking process of...

What Is a Content Editor?

Are you interested in learning more about the role of a content editor and the...

4-minute read

The Benefits of Using an Online Proofreading Service

Proofreading is important to ensure your writing is clear and concise for your readers. Whether...

6 Online AI Presentation Maker Tools

Creating presentations can be time-consuming and frustrating. Trying to construct a visually appealing and informative...

Logo Harvard University

Make sure your writing is the best it can be with our expert English proofreading and editing.

  • Link to facebook
  • Link to linkedin
  • Link to twitter
  • Link to youtube
  • Writing Tips

Synonyms for “Because”

2-minute read

  • 27th February 2015

The word “because” is used to join two ideas and express cause and effect:

The lemonade fizzed because we shook the bottle.

However, if you find yourself overusing the word “because,” there are alternatives available. We’re going to look at some here.

Alternatives to “Because”

Instead of “because,” you could use any of the following terms (although this may depend on the context). Consider using…

Used as conjunctions, these are the simplest alternatives to “because.” They often work as substitutes without having to change the rest of the sentence:

The lemonade fizzed, since we shook the bottle.

The lemonade fizzed, as we shook the bottle.

Due To/On Account Of/As a Result Of

These alternatives all require changing the sentence slightly. Here, for example, we need to use the term “shaking” rather than “shook”:

The lemonade fizzed due to shaking the bottle.

Find this useful?

Subscribe to our newsletter and get writing tips from our editors straight to your inbox.

The lemonade fizzed on account of shaking the bottle.

The lemonade fizzed as a result of shaking the bottle.

Which Meant/Which Caused

In these phrases, the sentence must be reversed, with the cause coming first:

We shook the bottle, which meant that the lemonade fizzed.

We shook the bottle, which made the lemonade fizz.

In this version, we need to swap ‘fizzed’ for the infinitive ‘to fizz’.

We shook the bottle, which caused the lemonade to fizz.

Using some of these alternatives will be a great way to show off your vocabulary. They will also vary the rhythm of your text and engage the reader much more, enhancing readability.

Why Not to Use the Word Because

Using a word repeatedly in a paper can make you seem unimaginative. It could also make your work dull to read. If you need help finding other words to use, or if you are not sure that you have used these words correctly, simply upload your document to be proofread within 24 hours!

Share this article:

Post A New Comment

Got content that needs a quick turnaround? Let us polish your work. Explore our editorial business services.

3-minute read

How to Insert a Text Box in a Google Doc

Google Docs is a powerful collaborative tool, and mastering its features can significantly enhance your...

How to Cite the CDC in APA

If you’re writing about health issues, you might need to reference the Centers for Disease...

5-minute read

Six Product Description Generator Tools for Your Product Copy

Introduction If you’re involved with ecommerce, you’re likely familiar with the often painstaking process of...

What Is a Content Editor?

Are you interested in learning more about the role of a content editor and the...

4-minute read

The Benefits of Using an Online Proofreading Service

Proofreading is important to ensure your writing is clear and concise for your readers. Whether...

6 Online AI Presentation Maker Tools

Creating presentations can be time-consuming and frustrating. Trying to construct a visually appealing and informative...

Logo Harvard University

Make sure your writing is the best it can be with our expert English proofreading and editing.

Augustine English Classes - Best English Centre in Singapore

No products in the cart.

12 Ways To Replace The Word ‘BECAUSE’

avoid the word because

Many words or phrases can be used to set up an explanation. The most common and really REALLY overused one is “because”. Please encourage your child to stop using that word in his school compositions if he wants to score a little bit higher.

Here are 12 alternatives to replace “because” and their merits.

“As” is a direct synonym for “because” (for example, “He decided not to go see the movie, as he found out his nemesis was going as well”), but it’s not exactly much better.

2. AS A RESULT OF

This phrase is a substitute for “because of”, not because, as in “As a result of his insatiable appetite, all the dishes on the table were wiped clean within seconds.”

3. AS LONG AS

This informal equivalent of “because” is used to express the thought that given that one thing is occurring or will occur or is true, another is possible, in such statements as “As long as you’re going to the supermarket, could you help me buy 5 watermelons?”

4. BEING AS (OR BEING AS HOW OR BEING THAT)

This phrase has the same sense — and the same formality — as “as long as”.

5. CONSIDERING THAT

This phrase is essentially identical in meaning to “as long as” and “being as” and its variants.

This substitute for “because” is reserved for poetic usage, as in “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.”

7. NOW THAT

This phrase informally connotes cause and effect, as in “Now that Mrs Tan here, we can submit our homework.”

This phrase applies to explanations of emotion or feeling — for example, “She asked out of compassion” or “Out of spite, I refrained from passing the message along.”

9. SEEING THAT

This phrase is identical to “considering that.”

“Since” primarily refers to elapsed time, as in “Since it had rained, we didn’t need to water the garden.”

11. THANKS TO

This equivalent of “because of,” despite the wording, can apply to either a positive or a negative outcome; “Thanks to your involvment, the teacher is now watching our every move” demonstrates the latter sense.

12. THROUGH

Through is a preposition; it takes the place of “because of,” as in “Through the efforts of the teachers, all the students did well in the final year exams.”

For over 15 years,  Augustine’s English Classes  has helped hundreds of students fall in love with the subject and excelling in school exams. If you are interested to know how our classes work, or what our secret winning formula is, do feel free to drop us a message or give us a call.

Our Registration Is Open For 2023 Classes

Recent articles.

another term for because in essay

Students’ Work: Being Greedy

another term for because in essay

Students’ Work: An Act of Kindness

another term for because in essay

Students’ Work: Jumping to Conclusions

another term for because in essay

Students’ Work: A Crime

another term for because in essay

3 Common English Mistakes People Make

Like us on facebook.

QUICK LINKS

Marine Parade 86 Marine Parade Central  #04-302 Singapore 440086

© Copyright 2024 – MOE Registered English Tuition Centre Singapore Voted #1 English Tuition Class

Connect with

another term for because in essay

Grammarhow

6 Better Ways Of Saying “This Is Because” (Complete Guide)

Sometimes, we use phrases all too often in essays and formal writing, making them less impressive when it comes to writing them. That’s why it’s important to use synonyms for phrases like “this is because” to make sure you’re keeping your writing fresh with every new sentence.

What Can I Say Instead Of “This Is Because”?

When you want to say “this is because” in a sentence, you might want to consider one of the following alternatives to make your writing pop:

  • This is due to
  • The reason for this is that
  • As a result
  • Thanks to this

The preferred version for the replacement is “this is due to” because it’s the closest synonym of “this is because.” It also gets used a lot in essay-writing and is the perfect phrase to explain a point further in a piece of writing.

What Can I Say Instead Of "This Is Because"?

This Is Due To

Let’s start by looking through the alternative methods a little closer. We’ll start with the most popular choice, “this is due to,” and work our way down from there.

“This is due to” means that the previous information is related to what we’re about to say. Basically, we’re saying that what was mentioned previously has a direct impact on what we’re about to say.

Let’s begin with a couple of examples to help you understand how “this is due to” might look in a sentence.

  • People don’t like to communicate socially anymore. This is due to the growing relevance and accessibility of technology.
  • It’s hard to get good grades in school . This is due to an oversaturated work curriculum that doesn’t set children up for success.
  • It’s difficult for me to get into a good college. This is due to the fact that I didn’t try hard enough in my school years and didn’t get good grades.
  • There are many developing countries in the world left to suffer. This is due to the developed countries not being willing to help them out of a tough spot.
  • People are shopping less in malls. This is due to the internet making it much easier to order things online.

We usually start a sentence with “this is due to” when we want to develop the idea from the previous sentence. We can’t connect the two with a simple comma, and it isn’t advisable to use a semi-colon either.

Since we’re starting an entire new thread of discussion, it’s best to start a new sentence. That helps break up the flow of the sentence nicely and also gives the reader a chance to understand the direct connections we want to make between our pieces of information.

The Reason For This Is That

The next phrase we want to show you that works better than “this is because” is “the reason for this is that.” Generally, this one is a little less popular because it requires more wording to get right. Still, people use it comfortably in most forms of essay writing.

“The reason for this is that” also allows us to elaborate on a previously made point from the sentence before. It’s best to start a sentence with this phrase or a variation of it to continue a point.

  • Christmas is less popular as a holiday now. The reason for this is that more people are beginning to turn to atheism and disregard religious beliefs.
  • Television is one of the most powerful outlets in the world. The reason for this is that everyone has access to a TV and can watch it whenever they want.
  • Mobile phones are detrimental to our mental health. The reason for this is that we see influencers post about their perfect life and only wish we can achieve it too.
  • Wars are an unnecessary evil in the world. The reason for this is that governments just want to keep fighting for more power.
  • School sets children up to learn fundamental things but forgets to teach us how to transition to adult life. The reason for this is that the school curriculum is outdated and needs refreshing.

As you can see, we use this phrase in much the same way as writing “this is due to.” It starts the next sentence and always follows on from the point we made previously.

As A Result

“As a result” is the next phrase we want to talk to you about. It’s also closely linked to the other ones we’ve mentioned here, but it is slightly different in that we’re talking about a direct impact of the information we provided rather than a causal link.

“As a result” is used when we want to share the resulting information that links to the previous sentence. It is more of a final result and summary of things rather than a direct synonym of “this is because.”

  • Mobile phones are plaguing the world. As a result, family time has become less important to many children.
  • With the growing age of technology, children are left inside playing video games. As a result, many children don’t get out to play in the fresh air.
  • The internet is a dangerous place. As a result, thousands of people get scammed every month without even realizing it.
  • The Amazon rainforest was on fire for a long time. As a result, we lost a lot of biodiversities.
  • Ordering food online has become an increasingly easy process. As a result, eat-in restaurants have taken a big hit on sales.

As you can see, “as a result” is more of a final response to the previous information we provided. It’s still close to the meaning of “this is because,” but isn’t as close as some of the others we’ve mentioned.

“Owing to” is another example that follows the same trend as “as a result.” It refers to a result of something but also works well to replace “this is because” since it carries on from the previous information.

“Owing to” allows us to continue our point seamlessly throughout an essay. It works well as a synonym for “this is because” while also having the same meaning as the more final “as a result.”

  • People are prepared to do what it takes to survive in the wild, owing to the increasing need to live in the wilderness with global warming.
  • The internet is making it difficult to meet people in real life again, owing to how easy it is to connect with people across the globe.
  • There are multiple ways you can write “this is because” in an essay, owing to the evolution of the English language and its roots.

As you can see, we don’t have to start a new sentence when we’re using “owing to,” which is different from how we use the other examples throughout this article.

Thanks To This

“Thank to this” is very similar to “this is because.” If we rearrange “this is because” slightly, we’re left with “because of this,” which is almost identical in meaning and delivery to “thanks to this.”

“Thanks to this” allows us to attribute a certain quality or point to the previous piece of information we were sharing in our essay.

  • The ice caps have been melting for decades. Thanks to this, we’ve led a lot of arctic creatures to near extinction.
  • Soldiers are frequently sent out to fight wars they have no reason to. Thanks to this, many families are left without sons and daughters.
  • Politics has caused far too much drama over the recent years. Thanks to this, civil wars are beginning to develop right under our noses.

As you can see, “thanks to this” is used in much the same way as “this is because” and directly refers to the previous points made.

The last example we want to share with you is “since.” While this is one of the most common words to replace “because,” it is probably the furthest away from having a direct synonymous relationship with the phrase “this is because.” Still, it works well for our examples.

“Since” means “because” and relates to the previous information we’ve stated.

  • Many children won’t receive presents when their birthdays come around since they come from poorer families and settlements.
  • People are constantly arguing about their opinions since many of us believe that how we think is the only way the whole world thinks.
  • There are many things wrong with the world that arent being fixed since none of the world leaders are ready to act on them.

We don’t need to include any punctuation when we’re using “since” in the examples you’ve seen above. This sets it apart from any of the other examples we’ve seen throughout this article.

Sometimes, it works if you make it a new sentence, but you never have to do so if you prefer the flow of keeping it as one sentence.

What Is The Difference Between “It Is Because” And “This Is Because”?

“It is because” should be used when talking about a general idea that might have impacted something. “This is because” should be used when talking about a more specific idea that directly relates to something that was previously mentioned in your piece of writing.

martin lassen dam grammarhow

Martin holds a Master’s degree in Finance and International Business. He has six years of experience in professional communication with clients, executives, and colleagues. Furthermore, he has teaching experience from Aarhus University. Martin has been featured as an expert in communication and teaching on Forbes and Shopify. Read more about Martin here .

  • 10 Better Ways To Write “In This Essay, I Will…”
  • Due On, Due By, Or Due For? Difference Explained (+18 Examples)
  • 11 Formal Synonyms for “As a Result”
  • 10 Other Ways to Say “I Am” in an Essay
  • Daily Crossword
  • Word Puzzle
  • Word Finder
  • Word of the Day
  • Synonym of the Day
  • Word of the Year
  • Language stories
  • All featured
  • Gender and sexuality
  • All pop culture
  • Grammar Coach ™
  • Writing hub
  • Grammar essentials
  • Commonly confused
  • All writing tips
  • Pop culture
  • Writing tips

Advertisement

noun as in written discourse

Strongest matches

  • dissertation

Strong matches

  • composition
  • disquisition
  • explication

noun as in try, attempt

  • undertaking

Weak matches

  • one's all
  • one's level best

verb as in try, attempt

  • have a crack
  • have a shot
  • make a run at
  • put to the test
  • take a stab at
  • take a whack at

Discover More

Example sentences.

As several of my colleagues commented, the result is good enough that it could pass for an essay written by a first-year undergraduate, and even get a pretty decent grade.

GPT-3 also raises concerns about the future of essay writing in the education system.

This little essay helps focus on self-knowledge in what you’re best at, and how you should prioritize your time.

As Steven Feldstein argues in the opening essay, technonationalism plays a part in the strengthening of other autocracies too.

He’s written a collection of essays on civil engineering life titled Bridginess, and to this day he and Lauren go on “bridge dates,” where they enjoy a meal and admire the view of a nearby span.

I think a certain kind of compelling essay has a piece of that.

The current attack on the Jews,” he wrote in a 1937 essay, “targets not just this people of 15 million but mankind as such.

The impulse to interpret seems to me what makes personal essay writing compelling.

To be honest, I think a lot of good essay writing comes out of that.

Someone recently sent me an old Joan Didion essay on self-respect that appeared in Vogue.

There is more of the uplifted forefinger and the reiterated point than I should have allowed myself in an essay.

Consequently he was able to turn in a clear essay upon the subject, which, upon examination, the king found to be free from error.

It is no part of the present essay to attempt to detail the particulars of a code of social legislation.

But angels and ministers of grace defend us from ministers of religion who essay art criticism!

It is fit that the imagination, which is free to go through all things, should essay such excursions.

Related Words

Words related to essay are not direct synonyms, but are associated with the word essay . Browse related words to learn more about word associations.

verb as in point or direct at a goal

  • concentrate
  • contemplate
  • set one's sights on

noun as in piece of writing

  • think piece

verb as in try, make effort

  • do level best
  • exert oneself
  • give a fling
  • give a whirl
  • give best shot
  • give it a go
  • give it a try
  • give old college try
  • go the limit
  • have a go at
  • shoot the works
  • take best shot
  • try one's hand at

Viewing 5 / 74 related words

On this page you'll find 154 synonyms, antonyms, and words related to essay, such as: article, discussion, dissertation, manuscript, paper, and piece.

From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.

bottom_desktop desktop:[300x250]

Synonyms of essay

  • as in article
  • as in attempt
  • as in to attempt
  • More from M-W
  • To save this word, you'll need to log in. Log In

Thesaurus Definition of essay

 (Entry 1 of 2)

Synonyms & Similar Words

  • dissertation
  • composition
  • prolegomenon
  • undertaking
  • trial and error
  • experimentation

Thesaurus Definition of essay  (Entry 2 of 2)

  • have a go at
  • try one's hand (at)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb essay differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of essay are attempt , endeavor , strive , and try . While all these words mean "to make an effort to accomplish an end," essay implies difficulty but also suggests tentative trying or experimenting.

When might attempt be a better fit than essay ?

While the synonyms attempt and essay are close in meaning, attempt stresses the initiation or beginning of an effort.

Where would endeavor be a reasonable alternative to essay ?

Although the words endeavor and essay have much in common, endeavor heightens the implications of exertion and difficulty.

When is strive a more appropriate choice than essay ?

While in some cases nearly identical to essay , strive implies great exertion against great difficulty and specifically suggests persistent effort.

How do try and attempt relate to one another, in the sense of essay ?

Try is often close to attempt but may stress effort or experiment made in the hope of testing or proving something.

Articles Related to essay

alt 5a4412a517d28

To 'Essay' or 'Assay'?

You'll know the difference if you give it the old college essay

Thesaurus Entries Near essay

Cite this entry.

“Essay.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus , Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/essay. Accessed 28 Apr. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on essay

Nglish: Translation of essay for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of essay for Arabic Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about essay

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries.  Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.

Can you solve 4 words at once?

Word of the day.

See Definitions and Examples »

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

More commonly misspelled words, commonly misspelled words, how to use em dashes (—), en dashes (–) , and hyphens (-), absent letters that are heard anyway, how to use accents and diacritical marks, popular in wordplay, the words of the week - apr. 26, 9 superb owl words, 'gaslighting,' 'woke,' 'democracy,' and other top lookups, 10 words for lesser-known games and sports, your favorite band is in the dictionary, games & quizzes.

Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.

COMMENTS

  1. 51 Synonyms & Antonyms for BECAUSE

    Find 51 different ways to say BECAUSE, along with antonyms, related words, and example sentences at Thesaurus.com.

  2. 16 Substitutes for "Because" or "Because Of"

    Learn how to use 16 different words or phrases to replace because or because of in an essay or a sentence. Find out the advantages and disadvantages of each alternative and the contexts in which they are suitable or inappropriate.

  3. 30+ Alternatives for "Because": A Word List for Writers

    Exercises to Test Your Because-Cognition. Remove most instances of because by substitution or rewording.. Exercise 1. Millie knew she'd never pass the biology test, because she hadn't studied enough. But the lack of studying wasn't because of anything she had done. It was because she was exhausted. Every night for two weeks, her sleep had been disturbed because Mr. Clarke's dogs barked.

  4. Other Ways of Saying 'Because'

    Learn how to use other words or phrases instead of 'because' in your writing. Find out the advantages of varied word choice and how to avoid repetition. See examples of synonyms for 'because' and how to rearrange sentences with them.

  5. Because synonyms

    Another way to say Because? Synonyms for Because (other words and phrases for Because). Synonyms for Because. 578 other terms for because- words and phrases with similar meaning. Lists. synonyms. antonyms. definitions. sentences. thesaurus. words. phrases. idioms. Parts of speech. adverbs. nouns. conjunctions.

  6. Five Other Ways To Say Because

    Five "Because" Alternatives 1. As. Similarly to because, as is a conjunction "used to state the reason for something.". I took the bus home because I thought you forgot to pick me up.I took the bus home as I thought you forgot to pick me up. 2. Since. Although since is a common alternative, some people consider it second-rate to because.This is because it can also function as a ...

  7. BECAUSE Synonyms: 11 Similar Words

    Synonyms for BECAUSE: since, now, seeing, for, whereas, considering, as, being (as or as how or that), inasmuch as, 'cause

  8. Synonyms for 'Because'

    Synonyms for "Because". The word "because" is used to join two ideas and express cause and effect: The lemonade fizzed because we shook the bottle. However, if you find yourself overusing the word "because," there are alternatives available. We're going to look at some here.

  9. 30+ Synonyms for Because with Examples

    7ESL » Words » Synonyms » 30+ Synonyms for Because with Examples | Another Word for Because. 30+ Synonyms for Because with Examples | Another Word for Because. by 7ESL. 3k Pinterest 8.6k Facebook X LinkedIn Reddit. 11.7k. ... It is commonly used in formal writing such as academic papers, legal documents, and business reports. ...

  10. BECAUSE in Thesaurus: 100+ Synonyms & Antonyms for BECAUSE

    Most related words/phrases with sentence examples define Because meaning and usage. Thesaurus for Because. Related terms for because- synonyms, antonyms and sentences with because. Lists. synonyms. antonyms. definitions. sentences. thesaurus. Parts of speech. nouns. adverbs. conjunctions. Synonyms Similar meaning. View all.

  11. What is another word for because

    owing to the fact that. seeing that. 'cause. for the reason that. whereas. as long as. forasmuch as. insofar as. insomuch as.

  12. Because Synonyms: 26 Synonyms and Antonyms for Because

    Words Related to Because Related words are words that are directly connected to each other through their meaning, even if they are not synonyms or antonyms. This connection may be general or specific, or the words may appear frequently together. Related: and so; though; but; although; in-fact; as-if; if; obviously; when; after-all;

  13. 12 Alternative Words to 'Because'

    Here are 12 alternatives to replace "because" and their merits. 1. AS. "As" is a direct synonym for "because" (for example, "He decided not to go see the movie, as he found out his nemesis was going as well"), but it's not exactly much better. 2. AS A RESULT OF. This phrase is a substitute for "because of", not because, as ...

  14. Another Word for BECAUSE: 40+ Useful Synonyms for "Because" in English

    Here, we share some great synonyms for "because" to help you add variety to your writing. Now that. On the grounds that. Owing to. Seeing that. Since. Thanks to. Through. Whereas.

  15. Myth: It's incorrect to start a sentence with "because"

    Beginning a sentence with "because" is acceptable so long as the because-clause is followed by another clause that completes the sentence. In other words, the trick with "because," as with any other subordinating conjunction (e.g. although, since, when, etc.), is to remember that "because" always implies a two-part sentence: a ...

  16. Words to Use Instead of BECAUSE: Helpful List of 23 Synonyms for

    Another Word for DESPITE: List of 16 Synonyms for Despite with Useful Examples; Another Word for ALTHOUGH: 18 Useful Synonyms for Although with Examples; Other Words for BUT: Helpful List of 21 Synonyms for But with ESL Pictures; Another Word for ON THE OTHER HAND: 18 Useful Synonyms for On the other hand

  17. 6 Better Ways Of Saying "This Is Because" (Complete Guide)

    When you want to say "this is because" in a sentence, you might want to consider one of the following alternatives to make your writing pop: This is due to. The reason for this is that. As a result. Owing to. Thanks to this. Since. The preferred version for the replacement is "this is due to" because it's the closest synonym of ...

  18. What is another word for because of

    by means of. by reason of. by virtue of. following. for the sake of. given. in the wake of. on grounds of. on the strength of.

  19. THIS IS BECAUSE in Thesaurus: 100+ Synonyms & Antonyms for THIS IS BECAUSE

    as a consequence of. for the reason that. in consequence of. by way of. hence. in light of. on account of. on the ground of.

  20. 80 Synonyms & Antonyms for ESSAY

    Find 80 different ways to say ESSAY, along with antonyms, related words, and example sentences at Thesaurus.com.

  21. What is another word for because of this

    as a deduction. upon that. on that. upon it. so accordingly. by reason of that. by reason of this. for that cause. due to that.

  22. ESSAY Synonyms: 76 Similar and Opposite Words

    Synonyms for ESSAY: article, paper, dissertation, theme, thesis, composition, treatise, editorial; Antonyms of ESSAY: quit, drop, give up