Thus means “as a result” or “in this way”. It introduces a conclusion or result of what was said before. The word is formal: it suits essays, reports and academic articles, while in conversation people say so instead.
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Sentence. Thus, + sentence; clause; thus, + clause; clause, thus + -ing; subject + (and) thus + verb
- Remote work reduces the need for daily commuting and thus lowers carbon emissions.
- The company moved its support team online, thus saving thousands of pounds on office rent.
- Many students could not attend evening lectures. Thus, the university began recording them.
What changed
First versionPetrol prices rose sharply, thus many people switched to public transport.
RevisionPetrol prices rose sharply; thus, many people switched to public transport.
It is tempting to use thus like and or so and join two parts with just a comma. But thus can't link two sentences this way. It needs a full stop or a semicolon before it, and usually a comma after it: sharply; thus, many people.
In essays, therefore and thus are often interchangeable. But thus has a handy pattern: after a comma, thus + an -ing verb shows what an action led to: Prices fell, thus making flats more affordable. Here thus means “and in this way”.
Your turn
The new metro line links the airport to the city centre, thus ___ journey times by half.
Show the answer
cutting — After the comma there is no subject and no and, so the result is expressed with an -ing form: thus cutting. Cuts would only work with and: and thus cuts journey times by half.
Write a sentence for an essay about a measure a city has introduced: a new metro line, paid parking or cycle lanes. Name the measure and use thus + -ing to show its result.
The city introduced paid parking in the centre, thus reducing traffic jams during rush hour.
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