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What is the difference between why and because?

why | because |

As adverbs the difference between why and because

is that why is for what cause, reason, or purpose while because is (archaic) for the reason (that ).

As conjunctions the difference between why and because

is that why is the reason that while because is by or for the cause that; on this account that; for the reason that.

As a noun why

is the reason or why can be (uk|dialect) a young heifer.

As a interjection why

is exclamation of mild surprise.

why

English

(wikipedia why)

Etymology 1

From (etyl), from (etyl) . See (l).

Adverb

(-)
  • For what cause, reason, or purpose.
  • #
  • Why is the sky blue?
  • Why did you do that?
  • I don’t know why he did that
  • Tell me why the moon changes phase.
  • #
  • Why spend money on something you already get for free?
  • Why not tell him how you feel?
  • #
  • Why''' him? '''Why not someone taller?
  • * {{quote-magazine, date=2013-07-20, volume=408, issue=8845, magazine=(The Economist)
  • , title= Welcome to the plastisphere , passage=Plastics are energy-rich substances, which is why many of them burn so readily. Any organism that could unlock and use that energy would do well in the Anthropocene. Terrestrial bacteria and fungi which can manage this trick are already familiar to experts in the field.}}
    Synonyms
    * how come, wherefore

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • reason
  • A good article will cover the who, the what, the when, the where, the why and the how .
    Synonyms
    * wherefore

    Interjection

    (en interjection)
  • An exclamation used to express indignation, mild surprise, or impatience. "Well, I'll tell you...".
  • * Daniel Defoe
  • Why , child, I tell thee if I was thy mother I would not disown thee; don't you see I am as kind to you as if I was your mother?”
    Derived terms
    * whyever * why in God's name * why not * why on Earth * whys and wherefores * why the Devil * why the dickens * why the fuck

    Etymology 2

    Noun

    (whies)
  • (UK, dialect) A young heifer.
  • (Grose)

    Statistics

    *

    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