come by later

USAGE SUMMARY

"come by later" is a perfectly fine phrase to use in written English.
You can use it when you are asking someone to stop by your location at a later time. For example: "I can't meet up with you right now, but why don't you come by later this evening?".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

One day, in 2006, he called and asked me to come by later.

The New Yorker

Similar opportunities were hard to come by later in the game.

The New York Times

Tells me, 'Keep the change, doughnut girl.' " "Maybe that handsome guy you thought was me will come by later," Jack says, handing her a five.

The New Yorker

Saturday's had not been as busy by midday, but he figured people would come by later or maybe drop by on Sunday, when the carwash would feature a display of lowriders and a D.J.

The New York Times

"I've put the ricotta cheese aside for you, will you come by later?" he would say on the telephone – a phrase investigators said had nothing to do with dairy products.

The Guardian

The best I can manage to do is shout out the front door to the grocer's son when he drives past in his hot rod, and tell him to ask the grocer to have fourteen lamb chops ready when I come by later.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

And when the donor comes by later for a favor, Senator X is well aware of the soft-money gift.

The New York Times

"Are you coming by later?" Mr. Gagosian was circling shark-like amid the well-coiffed art patrons, recruiting for a private dinner he was holding later at his Upper East Side house.

The New York Times

The children were aghast but the neighbor came by later to talk about when she would see her son again.

Huffington Post

Huffington Post editor, Andy Campbell, who came by later to say "hello" and is a really nice guy, lives just across the street, took a pic from the fire escape with his girlfriend and it went viral.

Huffington Post

"But if you want a Pill, come by our house later — 77 Triphammer Lane".

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "come by later" when you want to suggest a casual and informal visit at an unspecified time in the future. It's appropriate for friendly invitations and arrangements.

Common error

Avoid using "come by later" in very formal contexts such as business meetings or official events. Opt for more professional language such as "I would like to schedule a meeting" or "Please visit at your convenience".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "come by later" functions as an imperative phrasal verb. It is used to invite or suggest that someone visits the speaker at a future time. Ludwig AI validates this use through examples from various sources.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "come by later" is a common and grammatically correct way to invite someone to visit at an unspecified future time. Ludwig AI confirms that this expression is most frequently found in news and media sources, signifying its use in general communication. While informal, it's a versatile phrase suitable for friendly conversation. For more formal contexts, consider alternatives like "visit at your convenience". Remember to use it appropriately, keeping the tone and context in mind, to ensure clear and effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Stop by later on

Adds a slight emphasis on the timing, suggesting it will occur later in the day or period.

Come around later

A more colloquial way of saying visit, implying a relaxed atmosphere.

Drop in at a later time

Highlights the casual nature of the visit.

Swing by afterward

Similar to "come over afterward", emphasizing the casual nature and timing relative to another event.

Pop in later

Emphasizes a short, informal visit.

Visit sometime later

Emphasizes the act of visiting at an unspecified later time.

Come over afterward

Indicates the visit will occur following a specific event or time.

Visit me later

Simplifies the request to a more direct form of invitation.

Call on me later

A more formal way to express visiting, implying a specific purpose or arrangement.

Look me up later

Suggests the visitor should contact you before visiting.

FAQs

How can I use "come by later" in a sentence?

You can use "come by later" to invite someone to visit you at an unspecified time in the future. For example, "I'm busy now, but feel free to "come by later" tonight".

What's a more formal alternative to "come by later"?

In a formal setting, consider using phrases such as "visit at your convenience" or "schedule a meeting" instead of ""come by later"".

Is it correct to say "coming by later" instead of "come by later"?

Yes, "coming by later" is correct, but it functions as a continuous form, suggesting an action in progress or a plan. For example, "He is "coming by later" to drop off the documents."

What's the difference between "come by later" and "come over later"?

"Come by later" is a general invitation to visit, while "come over later" specifically implies visiting someone's home. You'd use "come over later" only when inviting someone to your residence.