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Because vs While - What's the difference?

because | while |

As conjunctions the difference between because and while

is that because is by or for the cause that; on this account that; for the reason that while while is during the same time that.

As an adverb because

is for the reason (that).

As a preposition because

is on account of, because of.

As a noun while is

an uncertain duration of time, a period of time.

As a verb while is

to pass (time) idly.

because

English

Alternative forms

* 'cause, cos, cuz, coz, 'cos, 'cuz, 'coz,

Adverb

(-)
  • (archaic) For the reason (that ).
  • * 1611 , Authorized King James Version of Genesis 2:3:
  • And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.
  • On account (of''), for sake (''of ).
  • I ruined my life because of you!
  • Derived terms

    * because of * just because

    Conjunction

    (English Conjunctions)
  • By or for the cause that; on this account that; for the reason that.
  • *
  • , title=(The Celebrity), chapter=1 , passage=I was about to say that I had known the Celebrity from the time he wore kilts. But I see I will have to amend that, because he was not a celebrity then, nor, indeed, did he achieve fame until some time after I left New York for the West.}}
  • * {{quote-magazine, year=2013, month=May-June, author= Katrina G. Claw
  • , title= Rapid Evolution in Eggs and Sperm , volume=101, issue=3, magazine=(American Scientist) , passage=In plants, the ability to recognize self from nonself plays an important role in fertilization, because self-fertilization will result in less diverse offspring than fertilization with pollen from another individual.}}
  • * , chapter=17
  • , title= The Mirror and the Lamp , passage=“Perhaps it is because I have been excommunicated. It's absurd, but I feel like the Jackdaw of Rheims.”  ¶ She winced and bowed her head. Each time that he spoke flippantly of the Church he caused her pain.}}
  • As is known, inferred, or determined from the fact that.
  • (obsolete) So that, in order that.
  • *, II.3.2:
  • Simonset the house on fire where he was born, because nobody should point at it.

    Synonyms

    * (for the reason that) therefore, since, for, for that, forthy, for sake, forwhy, as, inasmuch as, (mathematics symbol)

    Preposition

    (English prepositions)
  • * 2012' October 20, "D.F. Manno" (username), ''GOP deadbeat dad: No abortion exceptions '''because SCIENCE!'', in alt.fan.cecil-adams, ''Usenet
  • * 2013' November 19, Megan Garber, ''English Has a New Preposition, '''Because Internet :
  • Linguists are recognizing the delightful evolution of the word "because."
    Let's start with the dull stuff, because pragmatism.
  • * 2013 December 6, (Donald Glover) ((Childish Gambino)), (Because the Internet)
  • Derived terms

    * because reasons

    Statistics

    *

    References

    * Glossa'', volume 17 (1997), page 175: cf. Emonds 1976:175 on the analysis of Modern English ''because as a preposition introducing a clause 200 English basic words

    while

    English

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • An uncertain duration of time, a period of time.
  • He lectured for quite a long while .

    Conjunction

    (wikipedia while) (English Conjunctions)
  • During the same time that.
  • * , chapter=12
  • , title= Mr. Pratt's Patients , passage=While the powwow was going on the big woman came back again. She was consider'ble rumpled and scratched up, but there was fire in her eye.}}
  • * 1948 , , North from Mexico / The Spanish-Speaking People of The United States , J. B. Lippincott Company, page 25,
  • While De Anza was exploring the Bay of San Francisco, seeking a site for the presidio, the American colonists on the eastern seaboard, three thousand miles away, were celebrating the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
  • * {{quote-magazine, date=2013-06-07, author=David Simpson
  • , volume=188, issue=26, page=36, magazine=(The Guardian Weekly) , title= Fantasy of navigation , passage=Like most human activities, ballooning has sponsored heroes and hucksters and a good deal in between. For every dedicated scientist patiently recording atmospheric pressure and wind speed while shivering at high altitudes, there is a carnival barker with a bevy of pretty girls willing to dangle from a basket or parachute down to earth.}}
  • Although.
  • * 2013 September 28, (Kenan Malik), " London Is Special, but Not That Special," New York Times (retrieved 28 September 2013):
  • While Britain’s recession has been deep and unforgiving, in London it has been relatively shallow.
  • (Northern England, Scotland) Until.
  • * Beaumont and Fletcher
  • I may be conveyed into your chamber; I'll lie under your bed while midnight.
  • As long as.
  • * I. Watts
  • Use your memory; you will sensibly experience a gradual improvement, while you take care not to overload it.

    Verb

    (whil)
  • To pass (time) idly.
  • * Longfellow
  • The lovely lady whiled the hours away.
  • To loiter.
  • (Spectator)

    Derived terms

    * while away * meanwhile * the while