Afterward

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "Afterward" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate a time that follows an event or action, often in narrative or descriptive contexts. Example: "We went to the movies, and afterward, we grabbed dinner at a nearby restaurant."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"I got dropped early because I was being lazy," Lee said afterward, "but I got momentum late in the fight because I boxed consistently.

The Guardian - Sport

The newspaper quoted witnesses as saying some people banged on doors, asking for help, and afterward urged neighbors to call 911 amid crying and screaming.

The Guardian

Related: Secret Service agents should act more like Frank Horrigan than Frank Drebin | JC Johnson Clancy further described a culture within the agency of covering for colleagues' mistakes, saying he had not learned of the barricade-ramming incident at the White House until days afterward.

The Guardian

By the time of the film six years afterward, sporting facilities such as the Sheffield Arena, Don Valley Stadium (the floodlights of which can been seen in the back of the canal scene shot), Hillsborough Leisure Centre and the Ponds Forge complex, all built for the student games, had long since waved goodbye to the young competitors – but Sheffield taxpayers were, and still are, footing the bill.

The Guardian

McElroy's 74-year-old mother-in-law, Carol Johnson, suffered injuries described as non-life-threatening. Sheriff's investigator Bill Smith said she was walking and talking afterward.

The Guardian

"But, of course, we didn't know that until afterward".

The Guardian

But having heard what Mr Morris had to say in his discussion afterward, I think that most complaints about the film miss the mark.

The Economist

One of their sons found him unresponsive by the treadmill in their basement in New Haven, Connecticut".The Light of the World" is a story about the shock of sudden loss and forging forward afterward.

The Economist

His humiliated assistant coach said on national television, "Afterward the boss was angry and scolded me, saying I bungled things and couldn't even fix a match .The hapless case of "chip-shot gate", as the Qingdao game came to be known, is just one low point in aeons of Chinese footballing ineptitude.

The Economist

A field goal is worth three actual points, but just 2.6 expected points (the three minus the 0.4 cost of kicking the ball to the opponent afterward).

The Economist

The show was also, the study's authors reported, a good conversation starter; fully 40% "talked to a parent afterward", which may be progress.Teenagers themselves are being more cautious.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "Afterward" to clearly indicate the sequence of events in your writing. This helps maintain clarity and avoids ambiguity, especially when describing a series of actions.

Common error

Avoid using "Afterward" at the beginning of complex sentences where it can disrupt the flow. Place it closer to the specific action or event it relates to for better readability.

Linguistic Context

"Afterward" functions primarily as an adverb, modifying a verb or clause to indicate a point in time that follows a specific event or action. Ludwig examples show its use to connect events in a chronological sequence. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

39%

Encyclopedias

20%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "Afterward" is a versatile adverb used to denote a time following a specific event. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread use. It is primarily employed in news, encyclopedias, and science contexts to maintain clarity in chronological narratives. While "afterwards" is a valid alternative, "Afterward" serves well across various registers. For best practice, ensure it's placed near the action it modifies to avoid ambiguity. When considering related phrases, "subsequently" offers a more formal tone while "later" remains a more general alternative.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Afterwards

Simply adds an 's' to the end, creating a British English variant.

Subsequently

A more formal synonym, indicating a following in time or order.

Later

A more general term for a time following the present.

Thereafter

Indicates a time after a specific event or point in time.

Following that

A phrase indicating that something occurs after a previous action.

In the aftermath

Refers to the period and consequences following a significant event.

At a later time

A more descriptive way to indicate a future point in time.

Down the line

An idiomatic expression for a later or future time.

In due course

Implies that something will happen at the appropriate time.

Sometime after

Indicates an unspecified time following an event.

FAQs

How can I use "Afterward" in a sentence?

You can use "Afterward" to indicate that something happens after a specific event. For example, "We had dinner, and "afterward" we went for a walk."

What can I say instead of "Afterward"?

You can use alternatives like "subsequently", "afterwards", or "later" depending on the context.

Is there a difference between "Afterward" and "Afterwards"?

"Afterward" and "afterwards" are generally interchangeable, with "afterwards" being more common in British English. They both mean 'at a later time'.

Where should I place "Afterward" in a sentence for clarity?

For clarity, place "Afterward" close to the action or event it refers to. For example, instead of "Afterward, we decided to go home after the movie", try "We decided to go home "afterward", after the movie" or "After the movie, we decided to go home "afterward"".