a couple of hours afterward

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a couple of hours afterward" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate a time period that follows an event by a few hours. Example: "We finished the meeting, and a couple of hours afterward, we received the report."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

He said that a curious aspect of the storm was that a couple of hours afterward the creeks were down and people who didn't suffer any damage didn't know there had been anything unusual.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

She died a couple of hours later.

The Guardian

A couple of hours later, Obama appears.

The New Yorker

A couple of hours later, Greenhouse got the lab results.

The New York Times - Magazine

But the dissociative symptoms disappeared within a couple of hours, and shortly afterward patients and physicians reported a dramatic improvement in mood.

The Washington Post

After a couple of hours, take a break.

WikiHow

Afterward, he expects to spend a couple of hours greeting well-wishers at the South Gate House.

The New York Times - Sports

A couple of hours?

The New York Times - Food

A couple of hours passed.

The New Yorker

They spoke for a couple of hours.

The New York Times

In only a couple of hours.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When precision is crucial, consider specifying the exact time instead of using the approximate "a couple of hours."

Common error

Avoid using "a couple of hours afterward" when referring to periods significantly longer than two hours; this can mislead the reader. For longer durations, specify "several hours" or "many hours" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a couple of hours afterward" functions as an adverbial phrase of time, modifying a verb or clause to indicate when an action occurred in relation to a previous event. Ludwig AI confirms its correct and usable status.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a couple of hours afterward" is a grammatically sound and frequently used way to indicate a short period following an event. Ludwig AI validates its correctness and usability. It functions as an adverbial phrase, specifying timing and creating temporal context. While suitable for a variety of sources, including news, media, and academic writing, it maintains a neutral register, making it widely applicable. When using the phrase, consider that other options, such as "a few hours later" or "shortly thereafter", may better suit your needs for clarity or formality. Remember to avoid overusing "a couple of hours afterward" to define durations longer than two hours to prevent confusion.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a few hours later

Uses "few" instead of "couple", emphasizing a slightly less precise duration.

a couple of hours after

Removes "afterward" for a slightly more concise expression.

a couple of hours following that

Replaces "afterward" with "following that", providing a more formal tone.

within a few hours after

Implies the event happened inside a limited time window of a few hours.

around two hours following

Uses "around" to suggest an approximate timeframe and "following" for a formal tone.

several hours after that

Emphasizes a longer, indefinite duration following the initial event.

approximately two hours later

Adds "approximately" to indicate an estimation of time.

two hours subsequently

Uses "subsequently" for a more formal and precise indication of time.

two hours from then

Indicates a duration measured from a specific point in the past.

shortly after a couple of hours

Indicates that the event occurred relatively soon after the specified duration.

FAQs

What does "a couple of hours afterward" mean?

The phrase "a couple of hours afterward" means approximately two hours after a specific event has occurred. It indicates a short period of time following a particular incident or action.

How can I use "a couple of hours afterward" in a sentence?

You can use it to indicate the timing of a subsequent event. For example, "The meeting ended, and "a couple of hours afterward", we received the final report."

What are some alternatives to "a couple of hours afterward"?

Alternatives include "a few hours later", "shortly thereafter", or "a couple of hours after", depending on the desired level of formality and precision.

Is it more correct to say "a couple of hours later" or "a couple of hours afterward"?

Both phrases are generally correct and interchangeable. "A couple of hours later" is slightly more common in everyday speech, while "a couple of hours afterward" may sound more formal but they both share a very similar meaning.