a minute after

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a minute after" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate a specific time that occurs one minute following a referenced time. Example: "The meeting started at 10:00 AM, and she arrived a minute after."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

A minute after getting married.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

A minute after he returned the score was 22-0.

The Guardian - Sport

A minute after this image was recorded, the tornado touched down.

The New York Times

A minute after scoring this goal, he won the game with a spot-kick.

The Guardian - Sport

I got excited for a minute after reading Mr. Friedman's column.

The New York Times

Often, she didn't remember I'd been there, even a minute after I'd gone.

The New York Times - Magazine

Less than a minute after the police arrived, Lanza shot himself in the head.

The New Yorker

Sam scored a minute after Diego Fagundez had put the Revolution ahead.

The New York Times - Sports

A minute after leaving the bus, I realized my purse was still aboard.

The New York Times

The sequence came a minute after Wallace picked up a technical in an exchange with Thomas.

The New York Times - Sports

He stopped Holik on a breakaway less than a minute after Spezza's goal.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a minute after" to create a sense of urgency or immediacy in your writing, particularly when narrating events where timing is crucial.

Common error

Avoid using "a minute after" interchangeably with phrases like "a moment later" if precision is needed. "A minute after" specifies a concrete time frame, while "a moment later" is more ambiguous.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a minute after" primarily functions as an adverbial phrase of time, modifying verbs to indicate when an action occurred in relation to another. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage through numerous real-world examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

78%

Science

8%

Formal & Business

4%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a minute after" serves as a useful adverbial phrase for clearly indicating a short, specific time interval between events. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and widely used. Predominantly featured in News & Media, this phrase maintains a neutral register suitable for various contexts, from formal reports to casual narratives. To enhance clarity, avoid confusing it with similar but less precise phrases like "a moment later". Remember, "a minute after" offers precision, enabling you to effectively convey timing in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

one minute later

Uses a more explicit quantifier to indicate the passage of time.

just a minute after

Adds emphasis to the very short time that has elapsed.

shortly thereafter

Indicates a brief period following an event, without specifying the precise duration.

immediately following

Emphasizes the instantaneous nature of the subsequent event.

in the next minute

Highlights the swiftness within which the second event unfolds.

following directly

Conveys the idea that nothing intervenes between one action and another.

one minute onward

Emphasizes the continuation of the first event.

a short moment after

Generalizes the duration, denoting a small interval.

one minute succeeding

Formal alternative denoting sequence but not necessarily immediately.

split seconds later

Implies that the events happened almost at the same time.

FAQs

How can I use "a minute after" in a sentence?

Use "a minute after" to specify that something happened shortly after a specific point in time. For example, "The alarm went off, and "a minute after", the house was filled with smoke."

What are some alternatives to using "a minute after"?

You can use alternatives like "one minute later", "shortly thereafter", or "immediately following", depending on the level of formality and precision you want to convey.

Is it better to use "a minute after" or "one minute after"?

Both "a minute after" and "one minute after" are grammatically correct and widely used. The choice depends on stylistic preference, although "a minute after" is generally more common in informal contexts.

What's the difference between "a minute after" and "a moment after"?

"A minute after" refers to a specific 60-second interval, while "a moment after" implies a shorter, less defined period. Use "a minute after" when you need to be precise about the time that has elapsed.