hereto

IPA/ˌhɪəˈtuː/
IPA/ˌhɪrˈtuː/

hereto — adverb

1. used in legal and official writing to mean 'to this particular document, contrac

1.adverbC2
Definition

used in legal and official writing to mean 'to this particular document, contract, or written matter that is now being discussed or signed'.

Example

The list of prices attached hereto is valid until the end of March.

collocation: attached hereto

All parties hereto agree to pay the costs shown on page four.

collocation: parties hereto

Common collocations
  • attached hereto
  • parties hereto
  • signed hereto
  • referred to hereto
  • annexed hereto
Synonyms
  • to this

    neutral alternative used in everyday writing instead of formal 'hereto'

  • to this document

    clearer and more natural in most business correspondence

Grammar Patterns

attached hereto

signed hereto

parties hereto

referred to hereto

Usage Note

Used only in very formal writing — in legal contracts, deeds, official notices, and similar documents. In everyday English, use simpler phrases such as 'to this' or 'in this' instead. Often appears in set phrases like 'attached hereto', 'the parties hereto', and 'signed hereto'.

Common Mistakes

The details shown hereto are incorrect.
The details shown herein are incorrect.
'hereto' means 'to this document', while 'herein' means 'in this document'. If the meaning is 'inside this document', use 'herein'.
I have attached the file hereto to my email.
I have attached the file to this email.
'hereto' is too formal for everyday email; use 'to this' instead.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adverb/1

All four words are formal legal adverbs formed from 'here-' + a preposition, but each points to a different relationship with the document. 'Hereto' means 'to this document' and is used for attachments or parties (attached hereto, parties hereto). 'Herein' means 'in this document' and points to content inside the document (the terms herein). 'Hereby' means 'by means of this document' and performs an action through the document itself (I hereby declare). 'Hereof' means 'of this document' and refers to a specific part (section 3 hereof). Compare: a schedule is attached 'hereto', the conditions are described 'herein', a party 'hereby' agrees, and a clause appears in a section 'hereof'.

hereto ↗herein ↗hereby ↗hereof

Common collocations

Nouns

  • parties hereto
  • schedule hereto
  • appendix hereto
  • exhibit hereto

Phrases

  • attached hereto
  • signed hereto
  • referred to hereto
  • annexed hereto
  • included hereto

Etymology

Old EnglishEnglish

Comes from Old English 'hēr' (here) + 'tō' (to). Since the 13th century, English has formed a set of 'here-' compound adverbs — 'hereby', 'herein', 'hereof', 'hereto', 'hereunder', 'herewith' — that are now used almost exclusively in legal and formal writing. The pattern was more common in Middle English but survives mainly in legal English today.

First known use

12th century

12th century, in the meaning defined above