after later

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "after later" is not correct and is not usable in written English.
It seems to be a redundancy, as "later" already implies a time after the present moment. Example: "We can discuss this after later, but for now, let's focus on the current issue."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

The remaining chapters of the book may be said to be covered by the remaining sheets taken together; but the order of the book was not followed throughout in the successive conferences, earlier portions of it being sometimes passed over until after later portions had been dealt with.

Stanford University

Mr Khalid was recorded saying: "This earth here ain't ever be the same, how these people think that, all everyone's gonna be merry merry kuffar (non-Muslims) are gonna come and eat and drink here, it's not gonna happen, because after we've done, inshallah, yeah, after later on, yeah.

BBC

When I started bleeding only two days after later, I was concerned, but not too worried.

Independent

After later regaining the lead, Washington ultimately lost in overtime, 4-3.

The Washington Post

After later visiting several villages, Nathan was shocked at the damage he had caused.

The Guardian

She was charged after later telling police it was the retraction that had been false.

The Guardian

After later noticing that he was being followed by LucyPhone, Mr. Cirilli, who lives in New York, tried the service.

The New York Times

She died after later suffering a second stroke, and doctors said the second stroke was brought on by the accident.

The New York Times

After later experiments proved otherwise, Dollond devised an achromatic lens made of flint and crown glasses for use in telescopes.

Britannica

After later returning secretly to evade the press furore about his whereabouts, he was diagnosed as bipolar.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

The current trend among VCs, the report finds, is to go after later-stage deals, but there's potential to change as the market changes and more people flock to mobile and social games.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using "after later" in your writing. Choose more grammatically sound alternatives such as "afterwards" or "subsequently" to ensure clarity and correctness.

Common error

Don't combine "after" and "later" as they both indicate sequence in time. Using them together creates a redundancy. Instead, select either "after" followed by a specific timeframe (e.g. after two days) or use "later" on its own.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "after later" functions as an adverbial modifier, attempting to specify the timing of an event in relation to another. However, according to Ludwig AI, it's grammatically incorrect due to its redundant nature.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

39%

Science

33%

Academia

8%

Less common in

Wiki

8%

Formal & Business

4%

Encyclopedias

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "after later" is frequently encountered across various sources, Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically incorrect due to its redundant nature. Both "after" and "later" indicate a subsequent time, making their combination unnecessary. For clear and correct writing, it's best to opt for alternatives such as "afterwards" or "subsequently". Its presence across diverse contexts like news and media doesn't validate its use; instead, it highlights the importance of careful word choice to avoid redundancy and ensure grammatical accuracy. The informal nature and grammatical issues associated with "after later" suggest avoiding it in formal or professional writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

afterwards

A simple adverb indicating a time following an event.

subsequently

Replaces the entire phrase with a single adverb indicating something happening after a previous event.

following that

Uses a prepositional phrase to indicate sequence.

thereafter

A more formal adverb indicating after that time.

at a later time

Emphasizes a nonspecific time in the future after an event.

in due course

Implies that something will happen at the appropriate time after a preceding event.

down the line

Informal way to say sometime in the future.

in the aftermath

Focuses on the period directly following an event, often implying consequences.

in the wake of

Similar to "in the aftermath", emphasizing what happens as a result.

sometime after

Specifies an unspecified time following a specific event.

FAQs

Is "after later" grammatically correct?

No, "after later" is grammatically incorrect. The word "later" already implies a time after a specific event, making "after" redundant. Use "afterwards" or "subsequently" instead.

What phrases can I use instead of "after later"?

Instead of "after later", you can use phrases such as "afterwards", "subsequently", or "following that" to indicate that something happened at a later time.

How can I avoid using redundant phrases like "after later" in my writing?

To avoid redundancy, carefully consider the meaning of each word you use. Since "later" already implies "after a certain time", using "after" before it is unnecessary. Choose one or the other, or use a different phrase altogether.

Is it ever appropriate to use "after later" in formal writing?

No, it is never appropriate to use "after later" in formal writing. It is considered grammatically incorrect. Opt for more precise and grammatically sound alternatives such as "at a later time" or "in due course".