In an academic paper I'm using thus to indicate the conclusion of an argument. Today my professor said that thus should not be used in the beginning of a subordinate clause and suggested to use whence instead. Here's some examples to show how I use thus:
The substance did not freeze at normal pressure when the temperature
dropped below 0 °C, thus it's not water.Lisa's evidence does not satisfy the epistemic standard, thus she
doesn't know that p.Joel's utterance was offending, thus it was inappropriate.
Is it okay to start a subordinate clause with thus? Would using another word, e.g. whence, be more appropriate?
Best Answer
Neither thus nor therefore should be used as a conjunction to connect two independent clauses.
Thus, your example sentences are run-ons. You should use a semicolon to separate the clauses, like so:
I do not wish to offend the grammar gods; thus, I obey their arbitrary rules.