Which word is a common signal for cause-and-effect relationships?

Which word is a common signal for cause-and-effect relationships?

• A. Therefore
• B. However
• C. But
• D. Meanwhile

Answer: (A)

Cause-and-effect cues in writing help you see how one idea leads to another. Therefore signals that what follows is the result of what came before, making the relationship between ideas clear. When you read a sentence like “The storm knocked out power; therefore, the game was canceled,” the word therefore shows that the second part follows from the first as a consequence. The other options hint at different relationships: however and but indicate contrast or a shift in thought, not a result; meanwhile points to actions happening at the same time, not a consequence. So therefore is the best choice because it directly marks a conclusion or outcome driven by earlier information.

Cause-and-effect cues in writing help you see how one idea leads to another. Therefore signals that what follows is the result of what came before, making the relationship between ideas clear. When you read a sentence like “The storm knocked out power; therefore, the game was canceled,” the word therefore shows that the second part follows from the first as a consequence. The other options hint at different relationships: however and but indicate contrast or a shift in thought, not a result; meanwhile points to actions happening at the same time, not a consequence. So therefore is the best choice because it directly marks a conclusion or outcome driven by earlier information.