after a short spell

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "after a short spell" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate a brief period of time that has passed before something occurs or changes. Example: "After a short spell of rain, the sun came out and brightened the day."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sport

General Contexts

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

BB: I'd moved there after a short spell with Plymouth.

The Guardian

After a short spell in a Peebles hotel, Marchand came south aged 20.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

After a short spell at Stanford University, California, he joined the army as a young officer.

The Guardian - Books

After a short spell at Rikers Island following the killing, Ms. Sheehan was freed on $1 million bail.

The New York Times

Harrison came on board later, in 2010, after a short spell in retirement following the sale of his own business.

The Guardian - Business

After a short spell in Lisbon at Benfica, Mourinho was appointed coach of União de Leiria in July 2001.

The Guardian - Sport

Australia were leaders from 1995-99 and then, after a short spell of South African supremacy, 2001-09.

The Guardian - Sport

Cotterill was a free agent after a short spell working on the coaching team at QPR under Harry Redknapp earlier this season.

Independent

Mr Sugar left school at 17 and after a short spell as a statistician in the Department of Education, branched out on his own.

Independent

He rose further through the ranks at the BBC after a short spell in the independent production sector in the late 1960s.

The Guardian

Reading were 23rd in the table when McDermott was handed the job on a permanent basis after a short spell in caretaker charge.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "after a short spell" to clearly indicate a brief period between two events, enhancing the chronological flow of your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "after a short spell" when the period is not truly brief. If the duration is significant, use more appropriate phrases like "after a considerable time" or "after several months".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "after a short spell" functions as a prepositional phrase, introducing a temporal clause that indicates when an event occurred. It modifies the main clause by specifying the timing, similar to examples found through Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Sport

30%

General Contexts

15%

Less common in

Science

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "after a short spell" is a grammatically correct and frequently used prepositional phrase that adds temporal context to sentences. According to Ludwig, the phrase is commonly found in news and media, and sport, and is helpful for indicating that an event occurred following a brief period. While versatile, it's important to ensure the duration is indeed short to avoid misrepresenting the time frame. The alternatives provided offer similar meanings with slight variations in formality and emphasis, allowing writers to tailor their language to the specific context. Overall, "after a short spell" is a reliable way to clarify the sequence of events in various writing styles.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

following a brief period

Emphasizes the sequence of events with a slightly more formal tone.

after a brief stint

Replaces "spell" with "stint", implying a temporary engagement or activity.

following a quick period

Uses "quick" to describe the duration, suggesting even shorter time frame than "short".

after a small period

Uses "small" instead of "short" to describe the period of time.

subsequent to a short time

More formal and highlights the temporal succession.

following a limited duration

Emphasizes the constrained length of the time interval.

after a concise interval

Replaces "short" with "concise", which conveys brevity and precision.

after a momentary duration

Highlights the brevity of the time period using "momentary".

after a fleeting moment

Uses a more poetic term to highlight how fast time passed.

after a little while

More informal and general, suitable for casual contexts.

FAQs

How can I use "after a short spell" in a sentence?

You can use "after a short spell" to indicate that something happened following a brief period of time. For example, "After a short spell of rain, the sun came out".

What are some alternatives to saying "after a short spell"?

You can use alternatives like "following a brief period", "after a brief stint", or "subsequent to a short time".

Is it better to use "after a short spell" or "after a short time"?

Both "after a short spell" and "after a short time" are grammatically correct. "After a short spell" often implies a period of inactivity or a temporary state, while "after a short time" is more general and refers to any brief duration.

What's the difference between "after a short spell" and "after a brief hiatus"?

"After a short spell" generally refers to a short period of any activity or state. "After a brief hiatus", on the other hand, specifically refers to a short break or interruption from a previous activity.