afterwards to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "afterwards to" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It is not typically used in standard English, as "afterwards" usually stands alone or is followed by a verb or clause rather than "to." Example: "We went to the park, and afterwards, we had ice cream."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

I contacted Jet2.com afterwards to complain.

Independent

America will need allies afterwards to help rebuild Iraq.

The Economist

He underwent laser surgery afterwards to correct his astigmatism.

Independent

It fell to Grimston afterwards to make sense of that.

The Guardian

But he might afterwards to get an in/out referendum.

The Guardian

I'll buy you lunch afterwards to make up for it".

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Of course, the audience came round afterwards to commiserate.

The Guardian - Music

Adjustments are necessary afterwards to see the world straight again.

The Guardian - Opinion

He underwent laser surgery afterwards to correct an astigmatic eye.

The Guardian - Sport

The LAPD apparently arrived shortly afterwards to remove Al-Saud from the premises.

Independent

Her mother suggested a secretarial course afterwards, to ensure that Greig had all her bases covered.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To improve clarity, consider restructuring sentences to use conjunctions like 'after' or 'following' followed by a complete clause, instead of relying on 'afterwards to'.

Common error

Avoid combining the adverb "afterwards" with the preposition "to". "Afterwards" already implies a temporal sequence, making "to" redundant and grammatically incorrect. Instead, use "afterwards" alone or rephrase the sentence to use a conjunction.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "afterwards to" functions as an adverbial phrase attempting to indicate sequence in time. However, it is grammatically incorrect. As noted by Ludwig AI, standard English usage dictates that "afterwards" typically stands alone or is followed by a verb or clause.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

35%

Wiki

30%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "afterwards to" appears frequently in various contexts, Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically incorrect. Standard English prefers "afterwards" alone or restructuring the sentence with alternatives like "subsequently" or "after that". Despite its prevalence, especially in News & Media, Science and Wiki sources, writers should avoid "afterwards to" in formal writing to maintain clarity and grammatical accuracy. Prioritize single-word adverbs or rephrasing for better communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

afterward

Uses the correct single-word adverb form, omitting the incorrect preposition.

after that

Offers a more common and grammatically correct way to indicate sequence.

following that

Indicates a clear sequence of events, more precise than "afterwards to".

subsequently

Replaces the entire phrase with a single adverb indicating a later time.

thereafter

A more formal synonym for "afterwards", avoiding the incorrect preposition 'to'.

later on

A simple and common way to indicate a later time.

at a later time

More descriptive and grammatically correct.

in the aftermath

Focuses on the period directly following an event, providing a different nuance.

consequently

Highlights the result or effect of a previous action.

in due course

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

FAQs

How can I correctly use "afterwards" in a sentence?

Use "afterwards" as a single-word adverb. For example, instead of saying "We ate dinner, afterwards to the movie", say "We ate dinner, "afterwards" we went to the movie" or "We ate dinner, and "after that" we went to the movie".

Is "afterwards to" grammatically correct?

No, "afterwards to" is not considered grammatically correct in standard English. The word "afterwards" functions as an adverb and doesn't require the preposition "to". It's best to use "afterwards" alone or rephrase the sentence.

What are some alternatives to "afterwards to"?

Better alternatives include "subsequently", "thereafter", "after that", or simply "afterwards". The choice depends on the desired level of formality and the specific context.

Why is "afterwards to" considered incorrect?

The phrase "afterwards to" is redundant because "afterwards" already indicates a time sequence. Adding "to" doesn't add any meaning and violates standard grammatical usage. It's similar to saying "later to", which also sounds awkward.