Meaning & use
ergo
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Meaning
adverbnot comparableformalhumorous
Used to introduce a conclusion that follows from what has just been said; therefore.
Grammar: Comes at the start of a clause or after a comma and sounds formal or mock-serious.
Patterns
- X, ergo Y
I think, therefore I am; ergo, I exist.
It's raining, ergo the picnic is off.
He's late every day, ergo he will probably be late today.
Common combinations
- ergo, we
- Ergo, we should leave now.
- and ergo
- The bus is canceled, and ergo we walk.
- cogito, ergo sum
- Students learn 'cogito, ergo sum' in philosophy.
- ergo it follows
- Ergo it follows that the total is wrong.
- ergo it must be
- The lights are off, ergo it must be closed.
Synonyms and how they differ
- therefore
- Therefore is neutral and widely used, while ergo is Latin-flavored and often sounds jokey.
- thus
- Thus is formal and can also mean in this way, which ergo cannot.
- hence
- Hence can also point to a cause that follows from, often with a noun, as in hence the delay.
- consequently
- Consequently is longer and neutral, with no mock-logical tone.
Word family
- ergo conjunction
- also used to link two statements
- ergative adjective
- a linguistic term for certain verb behavior, unrelated in meaning
Commonly confused: ergo or ergot? ergo or ergonomic?
ergo vs ergot
Ergot is a fungus that grows on rye, and it has nothing to do with logical conclusions.
ergo vs ergonomic
Ergonomic means designed for comfort and efficiency, and comes from Greek ergon, work. Ergo is Latin for therefore.
Practice
Which word could replace ergo in 'The shop is closed, ergo we can't buy bread'?
Choose one answer.
Ergo means therefore, showing a result. Although, meanwhile, and unless do not show a conclusion.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “ergo”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.