afterward

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "afterward" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used as a preposition meaning "following in time or order; later" or as an adverb meaning "after that; subsequently". Example: We had a great conversation and afterward, we went out to dinner.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"I got dropped early because I was being lazy," Lee said afterward, "but I got momentum late in the fight because I boxed consistently.

The Guardian - Sport

The newspaper quoted witnesses as saying some people banged on doors, asking for help, and afterward urged neighbors to call 911 amid crying and screaming.

The Guardian

Related: Secret Service agents should act more like Frank Horrigan than Frank Drebin | JC Johnson Clancy further described a culture within the agency of covering for colleagues' mistakes, saying he had not learned of the barricade-ramming incident at the White House until days afterward.

The Guardian

By the time of the film six years afterward, sporting facilities such as the Sheffield Arena, Don Valley Stadium (the floodlights of which can been seen in the back of the canal scene shot), Hillsborough Leisure Centre and the Ponds Forge complex, all built for the student games, had long since waved goodbye to the young competitors – but Sheffield taxpayers were, and still are, footing the bill.

The Guardian

McElroy's 74-year-old mother-in-law, Carol Johnson, suffered injuries described as non-life-threatening. Sheriff's investigator Bill Smith said she was walking and talking afterward.

The Guardian

"But, of course, we didn't know that until afterward".

The Guardian

But having heard what Mr Morris had to say in his discussion afterward, I think that most complaints about the film miss the mark.

The Economist

One of their sons found him unresponsive by the treadmill in their basement in New Haven, Connecticut".The Light of the World" is a story about the shock of sudden loss and forging forward afterward.

The Economist

His humiliated assistant coach said on national television, "Afterward the boss was angry and scolded me, saying I bungled things and couldn't even fix a match .The hapless case of "chip-shot gate", as the Qingdao game came to be known, is just one low point in aeons of Chinese footballing ineptitude.

The Economist

A field goal is worth three actual points, but just 2.6 expected points (the three minus the 0.4 cost of kicking the ball to the opponent afterward).

The Economist

The show was also, the study's authors reported, a good conversation starter; fully 40% "talked to a parent afterward", which may be progress.Teenagers themselves are being more cautious.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

For clarity, position "afterward" close to the verb it modifies. This avoids ambiguity, especially in complex sentences. For example, "He finished his work and afterward relaxed" is clearer than "He finished his work and relaxed afterward."

Common error

Be careful not to overuse "afterward" in close proximity with other time-related adverbs or phrases. This can make writing sound repetitive. Instead of saying "Shortly afterward, he then went to the store afterward," consider alternatives like "Soon after, he then went to the store."

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "afterward" is an adverb of time. It modifies a verb, clause, or sentence to indicate that an action or event takes place at a later point in time. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

32%

Encyclopedias

20%

Science

18%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Reference

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "afterward" is a common and grammatically sound adverb used to indicate a later time or subsequent event. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's usable in written English as both a preposition or adverb. It is frequently found in News & Media, Encyclopedias and Science, denoting its versatility across diverse writing styles. While synonyms like ""subsequently"" or "later" exist, "afterward" offers a straightforward and clear way to establish temporal sequence. When using "afterward", ensure its placement enhances sentence clarity and avoid overuse to maintain writing conciseness. While "afterward" and "afterwards" are interchangeable, be mindful of regional preferences to enhance stylistic appropriateness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

subsequently

A more formal synonym, often used in academic or official contexts.

later

A simpler, more general term for indicating a time following an event.

after that

A straightforward phrase that clearly indicates temporal succession.

thereafter

A more formal and somewhat archaic term with a similar meaning.

following this

Indicates a direct sequence of events, often used in instructions or descriptions.

in the aftermath

Focuses on the period directly following a significant event, often with negative connotations.

down the line

Refers to a point further in the future, often unspecified.

at a later time

A more descriptive way of saying "later", emphasizing the timing.

in due course

Suggests that something will happen at the appropriate time, not necessarily immediately after.

in the sequel

Frequently used to describe the next event or action, especially in narratives or presentations.

FAQs

How to use "afterward" in a sentence?

"Afterward" typically functions as an adverb, indicating something happened at a later time. Example: "We had dinner, and "subsequently" discussed the plan".

What can I say instead of "afterward"?

You can use alternatives such as "later", ""subsequently"", "after that", or "thereafter" depending on the context.

Is "afterward" the same as "afterwards"?

Yes, "afterward" and "afterwards" are interchangeable and mean the same thing. The choice between them often comes down to regional preference ("afterward" is more common in American English) or stylistic preference.

Which is correct, "shortly afterward" or "shortly after"?

"Shortly afterward" is correct when using "afterward" as an adverb. "Shortly after" is also correct, but "after" functions as a preposition in that construction. For example: "He arrived, and "shortly afterward", the meeting began" versus "He arrived shortly after the scheduled time".