after doing something

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "after doing something" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that an action follows another action that has already been completed. Example: "After doing something productive, I always feel more accomplished at the end of the day."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

30 human-written examples

Mom always feels great after doing something rakish.

The New York Times

Is it nice to delve into a fantastical role after doing something emotionally wrenching?

The New York Times

It was self-punishment after doing something bad to a band member.

The Guardian - Music

Often in his work, a person, after doing something that you think you understand, does something that utterly contradicts that.

The New Yorker

But we think it would be so utterly foolish for them to issue a violation to us after doing something that's been so well-received by the community".

The New Yorker

So campaigning never stops and there is only a brief period in which a government can hope to recover after doing something necessary but unpopular.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

30 human-written examples

After all, doing something better at home means doing it worse on the road.

The New Yorker

Art that makes a lasting impression despite you is, after all, doing something noteworthy.

The New York Times - Arts

After all, people doing something to create value, rather than nothing, is the fundamental driver of growth in any economy.

The New Yorker

"Toward the top of our list, after winning, was doing something for our fans in New York," Baer said.

The New York Times

Just happy to be doing something after school, I guess".

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Be mindful of verb tense. Ensure the verb tense in the 'after' clause correctly reflects the time relationship with the main clause.

Common error

Avoid mismatching tenses. For example, instead of "After doing something, I will feel better yesterday," use "After doing something, I felt better yesterday" or "After doing something, I will feel better tomorrow" to maintain logical time flow.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "after doing something" functions as a prepositional phrase introducing a dependent clause. This clause modifies the main clause by specifying when the action described in the main clause occurs. As Ludwig AI suggests, it indicates that an action has been completed before something else happens.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

25%

Science

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "after doing something" is a versatile and grammatically sound construction used to indicate temporal sequence, clarifying that one action precedes another. As Ludwig AI points out, its functionality centers around establishing a cause-and-effect relationship or a condition for a subsequent event. While it maintains a neutral register, its frequent appearances in sources like The New York Times, The Guardian, and various wiki articles demonstrate its broad applicability across different writing styles. To ensure clarity, it's important to maintain consistent verb tenses. Remembering these nuances helps in crafting clear and impactful sentences with "after doing something".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

following the completion of an action

More formal and emphasizes the completion aspect.

subsequent to performing a task

Highly formal and highlights the task-oriented nature.

once an action has been executed

Emphasizes the execution and resulting state.

upon accomplishing a deed

More literary, focusing on the deed and its accomplishment.

having finalized an activity

Highlights the finalization of an activity.

post undertaking

Short, modern and simple.

in the wake of action

Used to imply something that follows closely or as a result of a particular activity

with an action complete

Short and emphasizes the completion aspect.

action completed

Even shorter and more simple.

since an action

Short and simple, emphasizes the time elapsed.

FAQs

How can I use "after doing something" in a sentence?

You can use "after doing something" to indicate a sequence of events, such as, "After doing something productive, I feel more accomplished."

What's a more formal alternative to "after doing something"?

A more formal alternative could be "subsequent to performing a task", which is suitable for professional or academic writing.

How does the meaning change with "before doing something" versus "after doing something"?

"Before doing something" indicates anticipation or planning, while "after doing something" indicates a completed action with a resulting effect. For instance, "before doing something" implies preparation, while "after doing something" discusses consequences or feelings.

Is it always necessary to include a comma after "after doing something"?

While not always mandatory, a comma after "after doing something" improves readability, especially when the phrase introduces a main clause. For example, "After doing something difficult, I treat myself."