therefore T₁H₄E₁R₁E₁F₄O₁R₁E₁

THEREFORE is the connecting word that signals a conclusion, as in a proof or an argument. It ranks 1,398th in English frequency with a count of 18,733. Players rarely misspell it, yet its nine tiles and three Es make it a hard fit on a crowded board, because you need two letters already down to build it from a seven-tile rack.

THEREFORE at a glance

• Built from E, E, E, F, H, O, R, R and T.
• Scrabble value before premium squares: 15 points.
• The heavy tiles H and F supply 8 of the 15 points.
• No anagrams; one neighbour, WHEREFORE.
• Collins, NWL2023 and ENABLE all accept it.

Where do the 15 points come from?

H and F each score 4, which together make 8. The remaining seven tiles are worth 1 each, so 8 plus 7 gives 15. A double-letter square under either heavy tile adds 4.

The same letter count gives TELEPHONE only 14, because that word carries a 3-point P where THEREFORE has a 4-point F. A single tile separates the two scores.

What does THEREFORE do in a sentence?

It links a cause to its result, as in the road was closed, therefore we walked. In writing it follows a semicolon or opens a clause. Dictionaries class it as an adverb, though it often works like a conjunction.

The close relative is WHEREFORE, which swaps the first letter T for W. Wherefore means for what reason, as in the famous line about Romeo, and it is the only one-letter neighbour. Its score differs, since the W is worth 4 where the T was worth 1, giving 18 in total.

Board tip