after hearing this

USAGE SUMMARY

"after hearing this" is a grammatically correct phrase that can be used in written English.
It is typically used to indicate a sequence of events, where something happened after hearing something else. An example sentence would be: "After hearing this news, she couldn't believe what she was hearing and had to sit down."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

After hearing this performance, I can believe it.

The New York Times - Arts

After hearing this, President Bush said: "That's a shame.

The New York Times

After hearing this, her voice took on an anguished tone.

The Guardian - Tech

After hearing this for four years, I decided that I did as well.

Columbia University

Yeah, after hearing this, President Bush said, "Ha-ha, he forgot Alaska and Hawaii".

The New York Times

After hearing this tune a million times, we are still not sick of it.

The Guardian - Music

After hearing this, his father said: "I can do something with that".

The Guardian - TV & Radio

"I am in shock after hearing this story," Pattaramon told Fairfax Media.

The Guardian

I'm leaving!" Mourning, after hearing this, threw back his head and laughed, like a family member.

The New York Times - Sports

After hearing this piano piece, McBride commented: "Evidently, I won the game".

The Guardian - Music

After hearing this story, Gaitonde resolved to be just as sharply watchful as Kaka.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "after hearing this" to clearly indicate a cause-and-effect relationship where the 'hearing' directly influences the subsequent action or thought. Ensure the context makes it clear what 'this' refers to.

Common error

Avoid using "after hearing this" when the 'this' is vague or ambiguous. Always ensure the context clearly identifies what was heard to prevent confusion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "after hearing this" functions as a prepositional phrase introducing a clause that describes the consequence or reaction to something previously heard. Ludwig provides numerous examples demonstrating this use across different contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

15%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Science

5%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "after hearing this" is a common and grammatically correct prepositional phrase used to indicate that an action or thought occurs as a direct result of hearing something. As confirmed by Ludwig, its usage is prevalent across various contexts, particularly in News & Media, Academia and Wiki sources, with a neutral to informal register. While it effectively establishes a cause-and-effect relationship, writers should ensure that "this" refers to a clearly defined piece of information to avoid ambiguity. Alternatives like "upon hearing this" can add formality, but the core meaning remains consistent: a subsequent action following auditory input.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

upon hearing this

Formal alternative, emphasizing immediacy.

once I heard this

Expresses the action as a completed event.

having heard this

Highlights the state of having received the information.

following this information

More formal; emphasizes the 'information' aspect.

on learning this

Emphasizes the 'learning' or understanding.

after being informed of this

Passive voice; emphasizes being told the information.

subsequent to hearing this

Very formal and emphasizes the time sequence.

with this information received

Highlights the receipt of information.

once this was announced

Focuses on a public announcement.

after becoming aware of this

Highlights the 'awareness' aspect.

FAQs

How can I use "after hearing this" in a sentence?

"After hearing this", many fans will whisper that Biggie must have known something.

What is a more formal alternative to "after hearing this"?

A more formal alternative would be "upon hearing this", which also emphasizes immediacy.

Is it correct to say "after to hear this" instead of "after hearing this"?

No, "after to hear this" is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "after hearing this", using the gerund form of the verb.

How does "after hearing this" compare to "before hearing this"?

"After hearing this" indicates a reaction or event that happens following the act of hearing something, whereas "before hearing this" indicates the opposite – a situation preceding the act of hearing.