I have used this word a few times recently so thought that it was about time I looked up the exact definition and found out if it should have a hyphen or not. The free dictionary.com shows it with a hyphen ‘there-in’ and they define this adverb as follows:
- In that place, time, or thing.
- In that circumstance or respect.
Merriam-Webster doesn’t show it with a hyphen and has similar definition, explaining that this word has been around since before the 12th century.
Interestingly, Wiktionary, who simply define therein as ‘in that’, show similar words and here are a few examples below (although, I can’t say I’ve never used any of them – not as one word anyway!):
- thereinafter
- theretofore
- thereunder
- therefrom
- thereunto
Hope you enjoyed today’s blog
Until tomorrow…
Sandra
Freelance Writer
www.sandramadeira.com
My Writing Notebook 
I have a lot of time for that word. Therein and thereon are often used in the world of insurance.
Posted by Robert Madeira | February 15, 2012, 7:41 amThanks for the comment Robert 🙂
Posted by Sandra Madeira | February 17, 2012, 6:42 am