Sense vs Since: What’s the Difference and When to Use Each

English is full of words that sound similar but differ significantly in meaning, usage, and grammatical function. 

One such commonly confused pair is “sense” and “since.” While they might appear in similar contexts, they serve very different purposes in the English language. Misusing these words can lead to unclear or incorrect sentences, so understanding their distinct roles is essential.

Let’s break down the definitions, functions, and uses of “sense” and “since,” along with helpful examples to clarify their differences.

Quick Comparison Chart: Sense vs Since

Feature	Sense	Since
Part of Speech	Noun, Verb	Conjunction, Preposition, Adverb
Meaning	Perception, awareness, logical thinking	Refers to time elapsed or causation
Function in a Sentence	Describes physical or mental perception, logic	Describes time from a point, or a cause/reason
Example (Noun)	“She has a good sense of humor.”	Not applicable
Example (Verb)	“He could sense someone watching him.”	Not applicable
Example (Conjunction)	Not applicable	“Since it’s raining, let’s stay inside.”
Example (Preposition)	Not applicable	“I’ve been here since Monday.”
Example (Adverb)	Not applicable	“I haven’t seen them since.”

Definitions and Grammatical Roles

To clearly understand how to use “sense” and “since,” let’s explore their definitions and how they function in sentences

What Does “Since” Mean?

“Since” is a versatile word in English that can serve as a conjunction, preposition, or adverb. Its primary meanings relate to time or cause.

As a Conjunction (e.g., “Since you asked…”)

As a conjunction, “since” connects two clauses and typically introduces a reason or cause.

• Function: Shows causality or reason
  
• Examples:
  
  • “Since you’re already here, why don’t you help?”
    
  • “I stayed in since it was snowing outside.”
    

In these sentences, “since” can be replaced with “because” and the meaning remains similar. However, “since” has a slightly softer or more conversational tone.

As a Preposition (e.g., “Since 2010…”)

When used as a preposition, “since” refers to a starting point in time and implies that something has continued from that point up to the present.

• Function: Introduces a specific point in time
  
• Examples:
  
  • “I’ve been working here since 2010.”
    
  • “She’s lived in New York since last year.”
    

This usage focuses on duration—specifically, the amount of time that has passed from a particular moment until now.

As an Adverb (e.g., “I haven’t seen her since.”)

As an adverb, “since” also relates to time, but it usually stands alone and refers back to a previously mentioned time or event.

• Function: Modifies a verb with time-based context
  
• Examples:
  
  • “They left the party at 10 and haven’t returned since.”
    
  • “We met at a conference two years ago and have kept in touch since.”
    

Adverbial “since” is often used in combination with perfect tenses (like present perfect or past perfect).

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What Does “Sense” Mean?

Unlike “since,” which mainly relates to time or cause, “sense” pertains to perception, awareness, and understanding. It functions primarily as a noun and sometimes as a verb.

As a Noun (e.g., “a sense of smell”, “common sense”)

As a noun, “sense” has multiple meanings depending on the context. It can refer to physical perception, mental faculties, or intuitive understanding.

• Function: Denotes perception or logic
  
• Examples:
  
  • Physical perception: “Humans have five senses: sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch.”
    
  • Emotional feeling: “He felt a deep sense of relief.”
    
  • Judgment or logic: “Use your common sense before making that decision.”
    
  • Understanding or meaning: “That doesn’t make any sense.”
    

The noun form is extremely common in both literal and figurative contexts.

As a Verb (e.g., “to sense danger”)

As a verb, “sense” means to detect, perceive, or become aware of something, often in an intuitive or non-visual way.

• Function: Indicates awareness or detection
  
• Examples:
  
  • “She sensed tension in the room.”
    
  • “I can sense that you’re upset.”
    
  • “Animals can sense natural disasters before humans.”
    

The verb form often implies instinctive awareness or a perception that isn’t always visible or explicit.

Key Differences in Usage

Now that we’ve looked at their grammatical roles and meanings, here’s a more in-depth view of how to distinguish between them in practical use:

1. Time vs. Perception

• Since is always tied to time (either as a cause or a reference point).
  
  • “Since the meeting ended, I’ve been working.”
    
• Sense is tied to perception, awareness, or logic.
  
  • “He lost his sense of direction in the fog.”
    

2. Grammatical Function

• Since can be a conjunction, preposition, or adverb.
  
• Sense is either a noun or verb.
  
  • So if you’re using a word to connect clauses or talk about time, you’re likely looking for “since.”
    
  • If the word is used to describe feeling, understanding, or detection, it’s “sense.”
    

3. Sentence Placement

• Since often appears at the beginning or middle of a clause:
  
  • “Since we were late, we missed the train.”
    
• Sense appears as a subject or object noun or as a main verb:
  
  • “He has a strong sense of justice.”
    
  • “I sensed something was wrong.”
    

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Incorrect Usage	Why It’s Wrong	Corrected Version
“I’ve been working sense last year.”	“Sense” is not a time-related word.	“I’ve been working since last year.”
“She has a strong since of smell.”	“Since” should be “sense” here.	“She has a strong sense of smell.”
“He senses it’s raining since the noise.”	Mixed up meaning and tense.	“He sensed it was raining because of the noise.”
“We talked sense two weeks ago.”	Wrong word for time reference.	“We talked since two weeks ago.” → Even better: “We have talked a few times since two weeks ago.”

Let’s address some frequent errors with “sense” and “since,” and how to correct them.

Tips to Remember

• If you’re talking about time or cause, think “since.”
  
• If you're describing perception, logic, or feeling, think “sense.”
  
• Replace “since” with “because” or “from that time” to check if it fits.
  
• Replace “sense” with “feeling,” “awareness,” or “logic” to see if it makes sense.
  

Examples in Context

Understanding definitions is just the first step—seeing words used in real-life contexts helps solidify comprehension. Below are example sentences that highlight the correct usage of “since” and “sense” across their various functions.

Using “Since” in Sentences

As a Conjunction (indicating cause or reason):

• “Since it’s your birthday, I brought you a cake.”
  
• “Since she studied hard, she passed the exam with flying colors.”
  

As a Preposition (indicating time):

• “He has been traveling since March.”
  
• “Since Monday, they’ve been working remotely.”
  

As an Adverb (modifying a verb with time):

• “I haven’t eaten there since.”
  
• “They moved to Canada in 2018 and haven’t visited home since.”
  

Using “Sense” in Sentences

As a Noun:

• “Dogs have an exceptional sense of smell.”
  
• “She showed remarkable common sense during the emergency.”
  
• “I couldn’t make any sense of the instructions.”
  

As a Verb:

• “He sensed someone was behind him.”
  
• “I sense tension between them.”
  
• “The machine senses changes in temperature automatically.”
  

These examples illustrate how “since” revolves around time and reasoning, while “sense” is anchored in perception and understanding.

Synonyms and Alternative Words

Sometimes, using synonyms or alternatives can make your writing more dynamic and precise. Let's explore some common substitutes for both “since” and “sense” based on their meaning and function.

Alternatives to “Since”

For Time: “after”, “from”

If “since” is being used to indicate a point in time, the following alternatives might work depending on the structure of your sentence:

• After
  
  • Original: “I’ve lived here since 2015.”
    
  • Alternative: “I moved in after 2015.”
    (Note: The nuance changes—“after” doesn’t imply continuity like “since.”)
    
• From
  
  • “She has been on medication from the beginning of the year.”
    (Here, “from” must often be paired with “to” or “until” to complete the time frame.)
    

For Reason: “because”, “as”

When using “since” as a conjunction for reasoning, these synonyms are interchangeable in most cases:

• Because
  
  • “Since it was late, we went home.” → “Because it was late, we went home.”
    
• As
  
  • “Since you’re not busy, can you help?” → “As you’re not busy, can you help?”
    

Tip: “Because” is generally more direct, while “as” and “since” feel more casual or formal depending on tone.

Alternatives to “Sense”

For Perception: “feeling”, “awareness”

If you’re referring to physical or emotional perception, here are possible alternatives:

• Feeling
  
  • “She had a strange sense of being watched.” → “She had a strange feeling of being watched.”
    
• Awareness
  
  • “He had no sense of danger.” → “He had no awareness of danger.”
    

For Understanding: “meaning”, “logic”

When “sense” refers to clarity or reason, consider these synonyms:

• Meaning
  
  • “This sentence doesn’t make any sense.” → “This sentence doesn’t have any meaning.”
    
• Logic
  
  • “Use your sense before jumping to conclusions.” → “Use logic before jumping to conclusions.”
    

Note: Not all synonyms are perfect replacements. Always consider the context and nuance.

Common Mistakes and Confusion

Even native English speakers sometimes mix up “since” and “sense”—especially in informal writing or speech. Let’s explore why the confusion happens and how to avoid it.

Why Are “Since” and “Sense” Often Confused?

The main reason these two words are often mixed up is due to phonetic similarity. In many accents, “since” and “sense” are pronounced almost identically (like /sɪns/), making them homophones or near-homophones in certain dialects.

Additional reasons include:

• Typing errors: When typing quickly, autocorrect might swap one for the other.
  
• Language learning challenges: ESL learners often struggle with homophones because English spelling doesn’t always reflect pronunciation.
  
• Over-reliance on sound: Writers might spell words based on how they sound rather than meaning or grammar.
  

Tips for Telling Them Apart

1. Check the context:
   
   • Are you talking about time or a reason? Use since.
     
   • Are you referring to perception or logic? Use sense.
     
2. Part of speech test:
   
   • If it connects clauses (like "because"), it’s probably since.
     
   • If it acts like a noun (something you can “have” or “use”), it’s likely sense.
     
3. Try substitution:
   
   • Replace with “because” or “after”—if it works, use since.
     
   • Replace with “logic,” “feeling,” or “awareness”—if it fits, use sense.
     

Can They Be Used in the Same Sentence? (With examples)

Yes! You can definitely use both words in the same sentence—as long as they serve their distinct grammatical functions.

Examples:

• “Since he lost his hearing, he’s developed a heightened sense of touch.”
  
• “She’s been more cautious since the accident, relying more on her sense of intuition.”
  
• “Since we started meditating, I’ve had a stronger sense of inner peace.”
  

Using both correctly in one sentence can actually highlight your understanding of their differences.

Origins and Etymology

Understanding where words come from often helps in remembering how to use them. Let’s look at the etymology of both “since” and “sense.”

“Since”

• Origin: From Middle English sithens or sithence, which came from Old English sīððan (meaning “after that” or “from the time when”).
  
• Evolution: Over time, it was shortened to since and began to carry both temporal and causal meanings.
  

“Sense”

• Origin: From Old French sens, derived from Latin sensus, meaning “feeling, perception, thought.”
  
• Root verb: Sentire in Latin means “to feel” or “to perceive.”
  
• Evolution: Maintained its association with feeling, perception, and rationality over centuries.
  

Despite their similar sounds today, these words have entirely separate origins, which explains their divergent meanings.

Related Word Pairs Often Confused in English

“Sense” vs. “since” is just one pair of many commonly confused English words. Here are a few others that cause similar confusion:

Word Pair	Why They're Confusing	Quick Tip to Distinguish
Affect / Effect	Verb vs. Noun confusion	“Affect” = action (verb), “Effect” = result (noun)
Then / Than	Similar spelling and pronunciation	“Then” = time, “Than” = comparison
Your / You’re	Homophones	“You’re” = you are
Its / It’s	Apostrophe rules	“It’s” = it is, “Its” = possessive
Compliment / Complement	Sound-alike with different meanings	“Compliment” = praise, “Complement” = goes well with

Mastering these subtle differences sharpens your communication and enhances both writing and speaking skills.