Thereto

Thereto is a formal, postpositive adverb used in English to refer to something previously mentioned or to point to a location or matter already stated. In many cases it functions as “to that” or “to the matter,” often appearing after nouns or pronouns in legal, contractual, or highly formal prose. The term is commonly found in phrases like “the terms thereto,” “the covenants thereto,” or “the deed and the covenants thereto,” where it binds the referenced document or subject to what follows or has been stated.

Etymology and history: Thereto combines there and to, with the suffix -o forming a single word. It appears in Middle and Early Modern English and has maintained a steady presence in legal and formal writing. While its use has declined in general modern prose, it remains standard in laws, deeds, and formal contracts, where precise reference to an antecedent is required.

Usage and style notes: Thereto is primarily encountered in legal documents, government texts, and other formal registers. It is rarely used in everyday speech or contemporary journalism; when clarity is preferred, writers often replace it with simpler constructions such as “to that,” “to the matter,” or “to the aforementioned.” Its close relatives include therein, thereof, thereon, and thereto, each serving different referential purposes within formal language.

Examples:

- The contract and the covenants thereto shall be binding.

- The notice and the terms thereto are hereby approved.

- The goods delivered, and the warranties thereto, are subject to inspection.

See also: therefrom, thereto, therein, thereon, thereof.

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