after you

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "after you" is correct and usable in written English.
It is used as a polite offer to allow someone else to go first, for example: "You can go ahead first, after you."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

They come after you".

The New York Times

"She looks after you.

The New Yorker

Everyone is after you".

The New York Times

Coming after you".

The New Yorker

I'm coming after you".

The New Yorker

"After you," she amended.

The New York Times - Magazine

After you leave the office.

The New Yorker

Also, I am after you.

The New Yorker

"After you went to bed.

The New Yorker

God is looking after you.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

(After you-know-who).

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In instructional writing, place "after you" at the beginning of a clause to clearly establish a chronological order of operations.

Common error

Avoid using "after you" in formal writing when you specifically mean a spatial relationship behind someone without any temporal or etiquette component; in those cases, "behind you" is often more precise.

Linguistic Context

Grammatically, "after you" is a prepositional phrase. According to Ludwig AI, it often functions elliptically in spoken English to yield sequence or acts as a temporal subordinator in complex instructions like those found in WikiHow.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

57%

Wiki

40%

Science

3%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Academia

2%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "after you" is a versatile and essential component of English communication, functioning both as a polite social shorthand and a precise temporal marker. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness in various scenarios, from yielding to a colleague in a doorway to outlining steps in a manual. While it is overwhelmingly common in News & Media through quoted dialogue, its secondary home in Wiki sources highlights its utility in guiding readers through chronological tasks. By understanding when to use it as a standalone gesture of courtesy versus a transitional phrase, writers can enhance the flow and tone of their work effectively.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

you go first

More direct and informal instruction for yielding sequence

following you

Active participle form indicating the act of coming after

proceed ahead of me

More formal and explicit instruction to move forward

following your lead

Suggests following an example or direction rather than just physical space

once you have finished

Focuses strictly on the temporal completion of an action

behind you

Refers strictly to spatial positioning rather than etiquette

after your departure

Specifically refers to the time following someone leaving

subsequent to your

Much more formal and technical temporal connector

in your trail

Adds a more descriptive or literary sense of following

at your convenience

Shifts the focus to the other person's timing rather than sequence

FAQs

How to use "after you" as a polite gesture?

You can use "after you" as a standalone sentence when holding a door or yielding in line to indicate that the other person should go first. It is a shorter version of the phrase "you go first".

What are some synonyms for "after you"?

Common synonyms include "go ahead", "please proceed", or "following you" depending on whether the context is social or descriptive.

Is "after you" formal or informal?

It is generally considered neutral. While it is perfectly acceptable in formal social settings as a gesture of politeness, it also appears frequently in informal dialogue and instructional content like WikiHow.

What is the difference between "after you" and "following you"?

The phrase "after you" is often used as a polite offer or a simple temporal marker, whereas "following you" implies an active, ongoing process of staying behind someone who is moving.