difference between 'so' and 'therefore'

[dchan]

Could you please explain the difference between 'so' and 'therefore' and quote with e.g. for that? Thanks.

[river]

So,the informal equivalent of therefore, is simpler and easier to read.

[Jamgirl]

I agree with river, there's not a great deal of difference between the two words. 'So' is used more frequently and is mainly used informally but can also be used formally. 'Therefore' is a much more formal version of 'so', and us English folk tend to use it when writing essays or formal texts or when we want to try to sound clever!

Examples:

'I have to stay late at work, so I won't be able to go to your party.'

This is informal language. It would be strange to use 'therefore' in this context.

'The mechanism had broken, therefore rendering the whole machine useless'.

This is formal language, so it is appropriate to use 'therefore'.