I read this in a student paper today: “As I loved music, I asked my parents for an iPod.”Even though the sentence is correct, I suggested that the student replace as with since or because.

These words can be used synonymously. Merriam-Webster’s online dictionary lists eight definitions for the conjunction as. The seventh is, “for the reason that: because, since.“

My concern with the student’s sentence is simple clarity. As not only has eight definitions as a conjunction, but three as an adverb and two as a preposition. It can even be used two different ways as a pronoun. And according to wordcount.org, it’s the 18th most commonly used word in English. The problem here is that the use of as as a synonym for since is relatively rare. It is much more common to use it as a preposition or an adverb. When I first read the clause “as I loved music” I assumed as was the adverb meaning like. I therefore anticipated the sentence would end with a comparison — something like “As I liked music, so I liked hog calling.” When the sentence ended with “I asked my parents for an iPod,” I was confused and had to reread before I realized my error. I had taken it for something of a garden path sentence.

Be assured, the error was mine as the reader, not the writer’s, since he used the word in a correct manner. But since both because and since are synonyms, and are defined narrowly enough to prevent any confusion, I felt the writer could do readers like me a service by substituting. In fact, I recommend that all writers avoid this particular use of as. You have two perfectly good alternatives. Go with since or because.

Different uses of as:

Preposition:

Garth is crazy as a loon.

Stan is disguised as a fire hydrant. 

Adverb:

I thought as much.

My rules, as noted below, are extensive. 

Conjunction/Conjunctive Adverb:

The child looked as he were guilty.

Your toes are as big as bullfrogs.

Just do as I say.

She played as I slept.

Unusual as it seems, that penguin can whistle Beethoven.

Pronoun:

He is wearing the same bow tie as I. 

He has been walking, as is apparent from the mud on his shoes. 

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