Ever paused mid-sentence wondering, “Do I write since or sense here?” 🤔
You’re not alone! These two words sound almost identical, but they have completely different meanings and uses.
While “since” deals with time, cause, or reasoning, “sense” refers to feeling, logic, or perception.
Although they sound similar, they serve completely different purposes in English grammar.
In this guide, you’ll learn exactly what each word means, how to use them correctly, and how to spot mistakes instantly. Plus, you’ll see real-life examples, dialogues, and memory tricks that will make the difference crystal clear.
Let’s make sure you never mix up “since” and “sense” again!
What Is “Since”?
✅ “Since” is one of the most versatile words in English. It can be used as a preposition, conjunction, or adverb.
1. “Since” as a Preposition (Time)
It shows when something started and continues to now.
Examples:
- “I’ve lived here since 2010.”
- “She hasn’t eaten since morning.”
- “He’s been working remotely since the pandemic.”
🎯 Meaning: From a specific point in time up to now.
2. “Since” as a Conjunction (Cause or Reason)
It can also mean because or considering that.
Examples:
- “Since you’re here, let’s get started.”
- “Since it’s raining, we’ll stay home.”
- “Since she apologized, let’s forgive her.”
🎯 Meaning: Because / Given that / As.
3. “Since” as an Adverb
It means from then until now.
Examples:
- “We met years ago and have stayed in touch since.”
- “I quit that job and haven’t looked back since.”
🎯 Meaning: From that time onward.
Origin of “Since”
“Since” comes from Middle English sithen, meaning after that time.
It’s been used in English for over 700 years, primarily to express time duration or reasoning.
💡 Quick Tip:
If you can replace the word with “because” or “from that time,” then “since” is the right choice.
What Is “Sense”?
✅ “Sense” is a noun and sometimes a verb that relates to perception, understanding, or feeling.
1. “Sense” as a Noun (Perception or Understanding)
It refers to one of the five human senses (sight, smell, taste, touch, hearing) or a mental understanding of something.
Examples:
- “Dogs have a great sense of smell.”
- “Use your common sense!”
- “He has a sense of humor.”
- “That makes perfect sense.”
🎯 Meaning: Feeling, awareness, or logical understanding.
2. “Sense” as a Verb (to Perceive or Detect)
It means to feel, perceive, or become aware of something — often emotionally or instinctively.
Examples:
- “She could sense the tension in the room.”
- “I sense something is wrong.”
- “He sensed her disappointment.”
🎯 Meaning: To detect or feel something without seeing it directly.
Origin of “Sense”
“Sense” comes from Latin sensus, meaning “feeling” or “perception.”
It entered English in the 14th century and remains one of the most versatile nouns in everyday speech.
💡 Quick Tip:
If you’re talking about feeling, logic, or awareness, use “sense.”
Key Differences Between “Since” and “Sense”
| Feature | Since | Sense |
|---|---|---|
| Part of Speech | Preposition, Conjunction, or Adverb | Noun or Verb |
| Meaning | Refers to time or reason | Refers to feeling, logic, or perception |
| Common Use | “I’ve been here since Monday.” | “That makes perfect sense.” |
| Can Replace With | “Because” or “From that time” | “Logic,” “Awareness,” or “Feeling” |
| Example Sentences | “Since you called, I replied.” / “I’ve waited since noon.” | “He has a good sense of humor.” / “I sense danger.” |
| Main Function | Connects events in time or cause | Describes understanding or feeling |
| Origin | Middle English (time-related) | Latin sensus (feeling-related) |
Real-Life Conversation Examples
Dialogue 1: Texting Friends
Ava: “I haven’t seen you sense last week!”
Liam: “Haha, it’s since, not sense — you’re talking about time.”
🎯 Lesson: Use since when referring to time periods.
Dialogue 2: Office Talk
Tom: “That doesn’t make any since.”
Nora: “You mean sense. The idea doesn’t make sense, not since.”
🎯 Lesson: Use sense when something feels logical or reasonable.
Dialogue 3: Detective Movie
Detective: “I can since he’s hiding something.”
Partner: “Not since — you mean sense, as in feel he’s hiding something.”
🎯 Lesson: Use sense when referring to detecting or feeling.
Dialogue 4: Grammar Lesson
Teacher: “We’ve studied verbs sense last week.”
Student: “Shouldn’t that be since last week?”
Teacher: “Exactly — since shows when something began.”
🎯 Lesson: “Since” connects events over time.
Dialogue 5: Everyday Chat
Sarah: “I can’t make any since of this!”
Jake: “You mean sense! It means you can’t understand it.”
🎯 Lesson: “Sense” is about understanding, not time.
When to Use “Since” vs “Sense”
| Context | Correct Word | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Talking about time or duration | Since | “I’ve known him since childhood.” |
| Giving a reason | Since | “Since it’s late, let’s go home.” |
| Talking about logic or understanding | Sense | “That makes perfect sense.” |
| Talking about feeling or intuition | Sense | “I sense something’s wrong.” |
| Referring to physical perception | Sense | “The cat’s sense of smell is sharp.” |
👉 Rule of Thumb:
If it’s about time or reason, use since.
If it’s about logic, awareness, or feeling, use sense.
Fun Fact or History Section
📜 1. “Since” and “Sense” Sound Similar but Have Opposite Origins
Even though they rhyme, they come from totally different roots — “since” from Old English (time-based) and “sense” from Latin (feeling-based).
💡 2. The Word “Sense” Is Deeply Human
The five senses (sight, smell, hearing, taste, touch) form the foundation of human experience — and that’s why “sense” expanded metaphorically to mean understanding or intuition.
Common Mistakes and Quick Fixes
| ❌ Wrong Sentence | ✅ Correct Version |
|---|---|
| “It doesn’t make any since.” | “It doesn’t make any sense.” |
| “I haven’t seen her sense Monday.” | “I haven’t seen her since Monday.” |
| “I can since that he’s upset.” | “I can sense that he’s upset.” |
| “Since of humor” | “Sense of humor” |
| “We’ve been friends sense high school.” | “We’ve been friends since high school.” |
🎯 Lesson: Think: Time = since, Feeling/Logic = sense.
Memory Tricks to Remember
🧠 1. “Since” Has “Time” in Mind
If you can replace it with “from then” or “because,” use since.
“I’ve loved her since 2018.” → “I’ve loved her from 2018.” ✅
💡 2. “Sense” Starts with “Sen-,” like “Sensation.”
If you’re talking about feelings or understanding — sense is the word.
“That makes no sense.” (That makes no logical feeling.)
🎯 Shortcut:
If it’s when → “since.”
If it’s why or what you feel → “sense.”
Mini Practice Section
Choose the correct word:
- “I haven’t eaten ___ morning.” → since ✅
- “That doesn’t make any ___ to me.” → sense ✅
- “She’s been quiet ___ yesterday.” → since ✅
- “He has a great ___ of humor.” → sense ✅
- “We’ve been friends ___ college.” → since ✅
Why Getting It Right Matters
Using “since” and “sense” correctly isn’t just about spelling — it’s about clarity and professionalism.
A simple mix-up like:
“That doesn’t make any since.”
…can make your writing look careless.
Meanwhile, correct use like:
“That doesn’t make any sense.”
shows precision, intelligence, and confidence.
✅ Good grammar builds credibility.
Conclusion
To wrap it up: “Since” is all about time and reason, while “sense” is about feeling and understanding.
They sound similar, but they live in different worlds of meaning.
Next time you’re typing fast and aren’t sure which one fits — just remember this:
If it’s about when or why, use since.
If it’s about logic or feeling, use sense.
Now, you can truly make sense of “since.” 😉
