afterwards however

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "afterwards however" is not correct and does not work well in written English.
It is generally used to indicate a contrast or a shift in thought after a sequence of events, but the combination is awkward and redundant. Example: "We finished the project on time; afterwards, however, we realized we had overlooked some important details."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

44 human-written examples

Need to slap on rich moisturiser afterwards, however.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Immediately afterwards, however, its share price tumbled by 40%.

The Economist

Shortly afterwards, however, it carried out a nuclear-weapons test.

The Economist

Immediately afterwards, however, came the pivotal five-minute spell which won the match for Saracens.

The Guardian - Sport

Afterwards, however, meetings between the officials and the residents became increasingly intense.

The Guardian

Afterwards, however, May's spokeswoman reaffirmed her commitment to the Conservatives' migration target.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

16 human-written examples

I've witnessed situations where a soldier was handcuffed after the spouse called 911 and pressed charges, however, afterwards the unit commander never contacted the spouse.

Huffington Post

However, afterwards she tweeted that her boyfriend had proposed.

The Guardian - Sport

However, afterwards Buttler said: "I loved the experience and enjoyed the pressure.

The Guardian - Sport

However, afterwards many reacted to his victory with disgust and anger.

The Guardian - Sport

However afterwards Afilaka described him as an "emotional wreck".

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using "afterwards however" in formal writing. Opt for alternatives like "subsequently, yet" or "later, but" to improve clarity and flow.

Common error

Avoid using both "afterwards" and "however" together as they can create redundancy. "Afterwards" already implies a sequence, while "however" introduces a contrast. Choose one or rephrase for better clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "afterwards however" functions as a conjunctive adverbial phrase, attempting to link two clauses by indicating both a temporal sequence and a contrast. However, Ludwig AI notes that this combination is awkward and redundant.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Science

15%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "afterwards however" is relatively common, Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically questionable and stylistically awkward due to its inherent redundancy. Although seen across news, scientific, and general web content, it's advisable to opt for clearer and more concise alternatives, such as "subsequently, yet" or "later, but". This enhances the overall quality and readability of writing, particularly in formal contexts. Prominent sources like The Guardian and The Economist demonstrate its presence, but the better choice remains using one of the many available alternatives.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Subsequently, however

Replaces "afterwards" with a more formal synonym, maintaining the contrast with "however".

Later, however

Uses a simpler term for time sequence, keeping the contrastive "however".

Yet, afterwards

Inverts the order, placing the contrast first with "yet", followed by the sequence.

Nevertheless, afterwards

Emphasizes the contrast with "nevertheless", keeping the time sequence with "afterwards".

Still, afterwards

Uses a more casual contrast with "still", retaining the sequential indication.

Then again, afterwards

Introduces a contrasting point with "then again", followed by the time indication.

On the other hand, afterwards

Presents a contrasting perspective more explicitly.

In contrast, afterwards

Directly indicates a contrast, keeping the sequential aspect.

That said, afterwards

Offers a transitional phrase to introduce a contrasting point.

Despite that, afterwards

Acknowledges a previous point before introducing a contrast.

FAQs

What is wrong with using "afterwards however"?

The phrase "afterwards however" is often considered redundant because "afterwards" indicates a sequence in time, and "however" introduces a contrast. Using both together can make the sentence awkward and less concise.

What can I use instead of "afterwards however" to indicate a contrast?

You can use alternatives like "subsequently, however", "later, but", or "nevertheless" depending on the context.

Is it ever correct to use "afterwards however"?

While not strictly grammatically incorrect, using "afterwards however" is generally discouraged in formal writing due to its redundancy. It's better to choose a more concise and clear alternative.

How can I improve my writing by avoiding "afterwards however"?

Focus on choosing the most precise transitional word or phrase to convey your intended meaning. For example, if you want to show contrast, use "however", "but", or "yet". If you want to indicate sequence, use "afterwards", "subsequently", or "later".