Cause and result with so — Foreign languages, 7–10
When one thing happens because of another, so joins the reason to its result. This lets you explain a small chain of events clearly.
The result word so
So introduces what happened because of the first idea: It was raining, so we stayed inside. The rain is the reason; staying inside is the result. You can use so between two complete ideas, and a comma often shows the small pause when you write the sentence.
Why connect the chain?
Without so, two sentences may sit next to each other without showing their relationship: The bell rang. We left. So tells your listener that the second event followed from the first. It came from the need to explain not only what happened, but how one event led to another.
From a problem to a result
Imagine that Tom forgot his lunch. First say the reason: Tom forgot his lunch. Next say what happened because of it: he was hungry. Join them with so: Tom forgot his lunch, so he was hungry. Check the direction: the forgotten lunch comes first, and hunger follows.
So is not because
A reasonable mistake is to use so where the reason should come: I was tired so I went to bed is clear, but I went to bed so I was tired changes the meaning. English usually places the cause before so and the result after it. Ask: what happened first?
Explaining everyday results
Use so when you explain a choice or an event: I’m cold, so I’ll put on a coat. The shop was closed, so we went home. It is useful in messages, stories and conversations because the listener can follow your thinking. Do not use it when the two ideas are merely next to each other.
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