Shortly thereafter

USAGE SUMMARY

'Shortly thereafter' is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is used to indicate that something occurred or will occur soon after a certain event or action. For example, "We decided to take a break, and shortly thereafter, we resumed our work."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Shortly thereafter, Brig.

The New York Times

Shortly thereafter, Washington beckoned.

The New York Times

"Shortly thereafter was the father".

The New York Times - Books

Shortly thereafter the show ended.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Shortly thereafter, regulators seized IndyMac.

The New York Times

Shortly thereafter, class was dismissed.

The New York Times

Shortly thereafter, the whining began.

The Guardian - Opinion

Shortly thereafter, Mr. Bakaly resigned.

The New York Times

Shortly thereafter her husband died.

Forbes

Shortly thereafter, it fades.

Huffington Post

Shortly thereafter, Florence curved northeastward.

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "shortly thereafter" to clearly indicate that an event happened soon after a previous one, maintaining a sense of chronological order in your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "shortly thereafter" when the time gap between events is significant. It implies a close temporal proximity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "shortly thereafter" functions as an adverbial phrase. It modifies a verb or clause by specifying when something happened in relation to a previous event. Ludwig AI confirms its use in indicating temporal sequence.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

43%

Wiki

31%

Encyclopedias

13%

Less common in

Formal & Business

6%

Science

6%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "shortly thereafter" is a grammatically sound adverbial phrase used to indicate that something happened soon after a prior event. Ludwig AI validates its correctness and utility. Common across news sources, encyclopedias, and wikis, it helps establish chronological order. While suitable for many contexts, it's important to ensure the temporal gap is indeed short to maintain clarity. Alternatives such as "soon after that" or "immediately following that" can be used depending on the desired nuance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

soon after that

Replaces "shortly" with "soon" and uses "that" for a more direct reference.

directly after

Simplifies the phrasing to indicate a direct temporal relationship.

not long after that

Emphasizes the brief time interval.

promptly afterwards

Stresses the quick and decisive nature of the follow-up action.

immediately following that

Emphasizes the immediate nature of the subsequent event.

in rapid succession

Highlights the quick, consecutive nature of events.

subsequently

Uses a single word to convey the idea of following in time.

in the immediate aftermath

Focuses on the period directly after an event, often implying consequences.

right on the heels of that

Uses an idiomatic expression to convey immediacy.

in short order

Implies that things happened quickly and efficiently.

FAQs

How can I use "shortly thereafter" in a sentence?

Use "shortly thereafter" to connect two events that happened in quick succession. For example, "The meeting ended, and "shortly thereafter", we went to lunch."

What are some alternatives to "shortly thereafter"?

You can use alternatives like "soon after that", "immediately following that", or "promptly afterwards" depending on the context.

Is there a difference between "shortly thereafter" and "soon after"?

"Shortly thereafter" and "soon after" are similar, but "shortly thereafter" can suggest an even shorter period of time. The best choice depends on how immediate the second event was.

Is it correct to say "shortly after" instead of "shortly thereafter"?

While "shortly after" is grammatically correct, "shortly thereafter" often provides a slightly more formal and polished tone, particularly in written communication.