Since vs Sense: Understanding When to Use Each Word

Stuck between “since” and “sense” in your writing? Don’t worry, it’s a common hurdle. Despite sounding similar, these two words have distinct purposes. Understanding when to use each one can significantly improve your writing’s clarity and precision. This article will act as your guide, offering clear explanations and examples to help you confidently navigate the “since” vs “sense” dilemma.

Defining “Since” and “Sense”

Since

1. As a conjunction:

   • Indicating time: Refers to a point in the past until now. Example: “I have been here since 9 AM.”
   • Indicating reason: Means because. Example: “Since you are here, let’s start.”

2. As a preposition:

   • From a specific time in the past: Example: “I have known her since childhood.”

3. As an adverb:

   • From a past time until now: Example: “He left home two years ago and hasn’t been seen since.”

Sense

1. As a noun:

   • Perception or awareness: Refers to the faculty by which the body perceives an external stimulus (e.g., sight, smell, hearing, taste, touch). Example: “Humans have five senses.”
   • Understanding or judgment: Refers to the ability to understand or comprehend. Example: “He has a good sense of direction.”
   • Meaning: Refers to a coherent or comprehensible meaning. Example: “This sentence makes no sense.”

2. As a verb:

   • To perceive or detect: Refers to becoming aware of something through the senses. Example: “She could sense the tension in the room.”

Time Travel or Inner Compass?

• “Since” for Time & Reasons: Use it for starting points (“I work here since 2023”) or reasons (“Since it’s raining, grab an umbrella”). Think “time machine” or “because.”
• “Sense” for Feeling & Meaning: Choose this for understanding (“This joke makes no sense”) or using your senses (“I hear sirens”). Think “internal compass” or “meaning.”

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“Since” vs “Sense”

Having the same sound but different meanings and spellings, “since” and “sense” are heterographs. “Since” typically refers to time or causation (because), while “sense” relates to perception or feeling. Despite this, distinguishing their functions in a sentence is straightforward.

“Since” as a Time Traveler (or Reason Giver):

This word excels at marking a starting point in the past that continues to the present. Imagine it as a time machine, whisking you back to that specific moment. For example, “I’ve lived here since 2010.” Additionally, “since” can introduce a reason or cause, acting like a bridge between the cause and effect. Think “because” – if the sentence still makes sense with that replacement, then “since” is the right word. For example, “Since it’s raining, I’ll grab an umbrella.” (This is basically saying “Because it’s raining, I’ll grab an umbrella.”)

“Sense” as Your Internal Compass:

While “since” deals with time and reasons, “sense” focuses on understanding and perception. It can refer to your five senses (sight, smell, taste, touch, and hearing) that help you experience the world. It can also mean a feeling or intuition, or even the meaning of a word or phrase. For example, “This sentence doesn’t make sense.”

Putting it into Practice: Makes Sense or Since?

By now, you’ve likely conquered the difference between “since” and “sense.” But a common phrase can still trip us up: “Makes sense” or “Since it makes sense”? Here’s the key: “Makes sense” stands alone. It simply means something is logical or understandable. While “Since” introduces a reason.

For example: “After the professor’s explanation, everything finally makes sense.”

“Since” introduces a reason, so “Since it makes sense” is grammatically correct, but a bit wordy. In most cases, “makes sense” is the cleaner option. Think of it as letting your writing flow naturally!

Bonus Tip:

When in doubt, try replacing “since” with “because” or “sense” with “meaning” in the sentence. If the replacement maintains the intended meaning and context, you’ve likely chosen the right word! However, always consider the specific context of the sentence to ensure the chosen word fits appropriately.

Examples in Context

Since (Time and Reason):

• “Since” dawn, they’ve been searching for the lost hiker. (Timeframe – Establishes a starting point)
• “Since” you forgot your lunch, I packed an extra sandwich. (Reason – Introduces the cause for the action)
• We haven’t seen each other since high school. (Timeframe – Connects past to present)
• “Since” moving to the city, life has been a whirlwind. (Timeframe – Highlights a change since a past event)
• “Since” the accident, she’s been afraid of heights. (Reason – Connects a past event to a present state)

Sense (Understandings and Feelings):

• The instructions don’t make much sense. (Understanding – Lack of clarity)
• I get a bad sense about this investment. (Feeling – Intuitive apprehension)
• What sense does it make to jump without a parachute? (Meaning – Questions the logic of an action)
• There’s a strong sense of community here. (Feeling – Perceived atmosphere)
• “Absence makes the heart grow fonder” – what’s the sense of that saying? (Meaning – Analyzing the message conveyed)

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Words You Can Use in Place of “Since” and “Sense”

Since

When indicating time:

• From: Use when specifying the starting point of a period of time. Example: “I’ve been working here from 2015.”
• After: Use to indicate that something happens subsequent to a specific event. Example: “I felt better after I took the medicine.”
• Following: Use to denote the period or events occurring subsequent to a specific event. Example: “Following the meeting, we had a discussion.”

When indicating reason:

• Because: Use to show the cause of something. Example: “I stayed home because I was feeling sick.”
• As: Use when providing a reason that is often already known. Example: “As it was raining, the match was postponed.”
• Due to: Use to indicate the reason for something, typically in more formal writing. Example: “The event was canceled due to the storm.”
• Inasmuch as: Use in formal contexts to mean “because.” Example: “He was honored inasmuch as he had achieved great success.”

Sense

When referring to perception or feeling:

• Sensation: Use to describe a physical feeling or experience. Example: “She felt a tingling sensation in her fingers.”
• Perception: Use to refer to the way in which something is understood or interpreted. Example: “His perception of the event differed from mine.”
• Awareness: Use to describe a conscious knowledge or recognition of something. Example: “There was an increased awareness of the environmental issues.”
• Intuition: Use to describe an instinctive understanding without the need for conscious reasoning. Example: “Her intuition told her that something was wrong.”

When referring to meaning or understanding:

• Meaning: Use to describe the definition or significance of something. Example: “The meaning of the poem was not immediately clear.”
• Significance: Use to indicate the importance or meaning of something. Example: “The significance of the discovery cannot be overstated.”
• Understanding: Use to describe the ability to grasp the meaning or concept of something. Example: “He has a deep understanding of the subject.”
• Interpretation: Use to describe the act of explaining or defining something. Example: “Her interpretation of the data was different from mine.”

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Origins of “Since” and “Sense”

“Since” – This word has a long and fascinating history. It traces back to Old English “siþþan,” meaning “after, since.” “Siþþan” is a combination of two Old English elements: “siþ” (meaning “journey, later, afterwards”) and “þan” (a variant of “þon,” meaning “then, when”). Over time, “siþþan” evolved into Middle English forms such as “sithen,” “sithence,” and “sithens,” before reaching its modern form “since” around the 16th century.

“Sense” – This word has its roots in the Latin “sensus,” meaning “perception, feeling, sense.” “Sensus” is derived from the verb “sentire,” which translates to “to feel, perceive.” The Latin influence on English vocabulary is significant, and “sensus” entered Middle English as “sens” or “sense” around the 14th century.

A Final Look

You’ve aced the “since” vs. “sense” challenge! While they may sound like twins, their jobs in a sentence are quite different. “Since” acts like a time machine, marking starting points or introducing reasons (think “because”). On the other hand, “sense” is your internal compass, guiding you towards understanding, feelings, and meaning. Remember these simple tricks, and you’ll conquer the world of clear communication! So, go forth and write with confidence, knowing you’ve mastered these tricky words.

Sources

Merriam-Webster (Since Definition & Meaning), Thesaurus.com (66 Synonyms & Antonyms for SINCE), Wiktionary (since – Wiktionary, the free dictionary), Wikipedia (Sense) and Vocabulary.com (Sense – Definition, Meaning & Synonyms).