Not long after

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "Not long after" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something happened shortly following a previous event or action. Example: "Not long after the meeting ended, the team received the project approval."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

Not long after, Anna dies.

The New York Times - Arts

Not long after, our marriage started shifting.

The New York Times

Not long after, the family left Washington.

The New York Times

Not long after, the garage collapsed.

The New York Times

Not long after, he shaved his head.

The New York Times - Sports

Not long after, though, something else changed.

The New York Times

Not long after, Soriano had a deal.

The New York Times - Sports

Not long after, he fell sick himself.

The New York Times

Not long after, I wrote a novel.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Not long after, the country knew why.

The New York Times - Sports

Not long after, the Bolsheviks seized power.

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "Not long after" to clearly establish a temporal relationship between two events, indicating that the second event occurred shortly after the first. This helps maintain a concise and easily understood narrative flow.

Common error

Avoid using "Not long after" if the initial event is not clearly established or easily understood by the reader. Without a clear reference point, the phrase loses its meaning and can confuse your audience.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "Not long after" functions as an adverbial phrase of time, modifying a verb or clause to indicate when an event occurred in relation to a prior event. As shown in Ludwig, it clearly establishes a temporal sequence.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Formal & Business

5%

Science

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "Not long after" serves as an effective adverbial phrase to connect events in time, indicating a short interval between them. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage across various contexts, particularly in news and media. While several alternatives exist, such as "shortly thereafter" and "soon afterwards", this phrase provides a clear and concise way to show temporal relationships in writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Shortly thereafter

Emphasizes immediacy and a slightly more formal tone.

Soon afterwards

Highlights the quick succession of events.

Immediately following

Stresses the direct connection and temporal proximity between events.

Right after that

Offers a more conversational and less formal alternative.

Quickly after

Highlights the speed with which the subsequent event occurs.

In short order

Implies efficiency and a lack of delay.

A little later

Indicates a slightly more vague and less immediate timeframe.

In due course

Suggests the event happened as expected within a reasonable time.

Subsequently

Formally denotes that something follows in time or order.

Before long

Indicates that something happened sooner than anticipated.

FAQs

How can I use "Not long after" in a sentence?

Use "Not long after" to show that something happened shortly after a previous event. For example, "The meeting concluded, and "not long after", the contract was signed."

What are some alternatives to "Not long after"?

You can use alternatives such as "shortly thereafter", "soon afterwards", or "immediately following" to convey a similar meaning.

Is it correct to say "Not a long after"?

No, the correct phrase is ""not long after"". The inclusion of "a" is grammatically incorrect in this context.

What's the difference between "Not long after" and "A long time after"?

"Not long after" indicates a short period between events, while "A long time after" suggests a significant duration has passed.