after several dates

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "after several dates" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate a point in time following multiple meetings or outings with someone, often in the context of dating or building a relationship. Example: "After several dates, they decided to take their relationship to the next level."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

After several dates, he asked her to marry him.

The New Yorker

After several dates they began writing their poem together through e-mail exchanges.

The New York Times

E! says the two remain friends after several dates together — which in our world is barely enough time to become not-friends.

Los Angeles Times

After several dates, Sayid turns on Elsa, who reveals herself to be a counter-spy by unexpectedly shooting Sayid in the shoulder.

Wikipedia

After several dates he proposed Olena to move to his apartment.

Unicef

Deeper questions like, "How's your relationship with your mother?" Or "what do you think about kids?" should only be asked after several dates and once you have built up trust and mutual understanding.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

Fleetwood Mac have cancelled several dates after bassist John McVie revealed he has been diagnosed with cancer.

The Guardian - Music

After having gone on several dates, has this person ever offered to pay?

WikiHow

In most cases, you should only ask a girl to be your girlfriend after you have gone on several dates and know that she is interested in you as more than just a friend; if you're younger and are used to asking girls to be your girlfriend before going on dates, then look for signs that she likes you, such as her blushing when you talk, or the fact that she waits for you after class.

WikiHow

Sensing he was making progress, and after several more dates, Mr. Varet invited himself to visit her in South Korea, where she spent her summers.

The New York Times

Anklewicz signed up in December 2013 and met Condren in June 2014, after several other dates set up by Papamarko.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "after several dates" to clearly indicate that an action or event occurred as a consequence of multiple prior meetings, specifically in a romantic context or when building a relationship.

Common error

Avoid using "after several dates" when the number of dates is insignificant or when the outcome isn't directly related to the dating process. Instead, use a more general phrase like "later" or "eventually" if the dates themselves aren't crucial to the narrative.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "after several dates" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause by indicating when something occurred. It specifies the timing of an event in relation to a series of dates. Ludwig examples show this phrase introducing actions or decisions made following the dates.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

33%

Formal & Business

17%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "after several dates" is a prepositional phrase that functions as an adverbial modifier, typically used to indicate the timing of an event in relation to a series of dates. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability in written English. While more common in news and media, as well as wiki contexts, it may be considered informal in highly academic or scientific writing. When using this phrase, ensure that the number of dates is relevant to the outcome being described. Alternatives include "following multiple outings" or "after a few dates".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

following multiple outings

Replaces "dates" with a more general term and uses "following" instead of "after".

after a few dates

Uses "few" instead of "several", indicating a smaller number of dates.

following a series of dates

Emphasizes the sequential nature of the dates.

following a number of dates

Similar to "following multiple outings", but uses "dates" specifically.

after dating for a while

Focuses on the duration of the dating period rather than the number of dates.

once they had been on several dates

Adds a subject and verb to create a more complete clause.

once a few dates had passed

Changes the structure to emphasize the passing of time.

subsequent to several dates

Uses a more formal phrasing with "subsequent to".

after some time dating

Similar to "after dating for a while", but slightly less direct.

later, after a few dates

Adds a temporal adverb to emphasize the time elapsed before the event.

FAQs

How can I use "after several dates" in a sentence?

You can use "after several dates" to indicate that something happened as a result of going out with someone multiple times, such as "After several dates, they became exclusive".

What's a more formal way to say "after several dates"?

A more formal alternative is "subsequent to multiple outings", which uses more elevated vocabulary.

Is it appropriate to use "after several dates" in formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "after several dates" is more common in informal or narrative contexts. Consider more precise language in formal writing, such as "following a series of meetings" if the context isn't specifically romantic dating.

What can I say instead of "after several dates" if I want to emphasize the time spent together?

If you want to emphasize the duration, try "after dating for a while" or "following an extended period of dating".