after school

USAGE SUMMARY

"after school" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to something that takes place after school hours, for example: "My brother and I always go for a walk together after school."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

43 human-written examples

"Schoolgirls ran there after school.

The New Yorker

Hervé worked in Afric' Music after school.

The New Yorker

Let's get ice cream after school.

The New York Times

I opened it up right after school.

The New York Times

I was in fights after school.

Independent

I work mostly evenings, after school.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

17 human-written examples

After-school activities.

The New York Times

After-school services are patchy.

The Economist

After-school activities as enrichment?

The New York Times

And nonathletes often work after-school jobs.

The New York Times - Sports

So she started an after-school program.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When specifying activities that happen after school hours, be clear about the specific timing if necessary. For example, instead of just saying "after school", specify "immediately after school" or "a few hours after school".

Common error

Avoid using "after school" when referring to events that might occur much later in the day or evening. "After school" typically implies the period directly following the end of the school day.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "after school" primarily functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying verbs by indicating when an action takes place. Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

46%

Formal & Business

2%

Less common in

Science

2%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "after school" is a common and correct prepositional phrase used to denote events occurring following the end of the school day. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and usability in English writing. Its frequency is categorized as common, with the most prevalent contexts being News & Media and Wiki. While versatile, ensure that the timing context is appropriate and not too far removed from the actual end of the school day. Exploring related phrases like "post-school hours" and "following school" can add nuance to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

after classes

Specifically refers to the period after instructional sessions have ended.

following school

A simpler way to say "after school", maintaining the same meaning with fewer syllables.

post-school hours

Replaces "after school" with a more formal term referring to the time period following the end of the school day.

after the school day

More descriptive, specifies that the time period is immediately after the school day concludes.

once school is out

Emphasizes the end of the school day as the start of the specified time period.

at the end of the school day

Highlights the conclusion of school as the point in time.

outside of school hours

Focuses on activities occurring when school is not in session.

subsequent to school

A more formal and less common alternative to "after school".

in the afternoon

A general term that includes the time "after school", but is not specific to it.

later in the day

A broad expression indicating a time after school, among other possibilities.

FAQs

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

You can use "after school" to describe activities or events that occur following the end of the school day. For example, "I have soccer practice after school" or "Let's get ice cream after school".

What are some alternatives to using the phrase "after school"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "post-school hours", "following school", or "after the school day".

Is it correct to say "after school's over" instead of "after school"?

While understandable, "after school" is the more concise and grammatically standard way to express the same idea. "After school's over" is more verbose and less common.

What's the difference between "after school" and "after-school"?

"After school" is a prepositional phrase, while "after-school" is an adjective. For example, you would say "I have practice after school", but "I attend an after-school program".