After that

USAGE SUMMARY

"after that" is an acceptable phrase in written English and it can be used in any sentence to refer to an action or event that has already occurred.
For example, "I went to the store, and after that I stopped for a coffee."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

After that came Google Docs.

Forbes

Things relaxed after that.

Independent

I left after that.

The New Yorker

Day after that.

The New York Times

Nothing's frightening after that.

The Guardian - Film

The match disintegrated after that.

The Guardian - Sport

Actually, the week after that.

The New Yorker

We respond after that.

Forbes

Then who knows after that.

BBC

Their friendship ends after that.

Wikipedia

Refresh repeatedly after that.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid overuse of "After that" in close succession. Vary your sentence structure with synonyms like "subsequently" or "thereafter" to maintain reader engagement.

Common error

Ensure the "that" in "After that" clearly refers to a specific, previously mentioned event or action to avoid ambiguity. Otherwise, rephrase to explicitly state what comes after.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "After that" functions as a temporal adverbial phrase. It connects clauses or sentences by indicating that the action or event in the second clause occurs in sequence after the action or event in the first clause. Ludwig confirms its acceptability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Wiki

15%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Science

4%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "After that" is a very common and grammatically sound temporal phrase used to establish chronological order in writing. Ludwig AI confirms this by providing numerous examples from reputable sources. While widely applicable, it's essential to ensure clarity by referencing a specific antecedent and avoiding overuse. Consider synonyms like "subsequently" or "thereafter" for variety. The phrase is particularly prevalent in News & Media and maintains a neutral tone suitable for diverse contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Following that

Directly replaces "after that" with a synonym, maintaining the same structure.

Following this

Similar to "following that", but uses "this" to refer to the preceding event.

From then on

Highlights a change that occurs and continues after a specific moment.

Subsequently

Formally indicates something that follows in time or order.

Thereafter

Indicates a period of time following a specific event.

Then

A more concise way to indicate sequence.

Next

A simple way to indicate the next step in a sequence.

In the aftermath

Focuses on the period directly following a significant event.

Later on

Indicates a point in time that is not immediately after.

Moving forward

Emphasizes the continuation from that point.

FAQs

How can I use "After that" in a sentence?

Use "After that" to show the chronological sequence of events. For instance, "I finished my homework. "After that", I watched a movie."

What are some alternatives to "After that"?

You can use alternatives like "subsequently", "following that", or "thereafter" to vary your writing style.

Is it okay to start a sentence with "After that"?

Yes, it is grammatically correct to start a sentence with "After that". It serves as a transitional phrase to connect ideas and indicate a sequence of events.

What's the difference between "After that" and "Afterward"?

""After that"" is a phrase typically used to connect two clauses or sentences, whereas "Afterward" is an adverb that modifies a verb, indicating something happened at a later time.