directly after

USAGE SUMMARY

"directly after" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It means "immediately following" something and you can use it when you want to make clear that two events are happening one right after the other. For example, "I put the groceries away directly after I arrived home from the store."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The sequel follows directly after.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

-Did you go directly after high school?

The New York Times

It rightfully won the Oscar directly after.

The Guardian - Film

Liking was scored directly after tasting.

Appetite

Fischer had been scheduled to speak directly after Romney.

The New Yorker

The American referee had disqualified her directly after the race.

The Guardian

It snuck up on us directly after we left Ingram.

The Guardian - Travel

The clothes will be in stores directly after the show.

The New York Times

directly after "Gravity's Rainbow," it felt lesser, less ambitious.

The New Yorker

Be ready for attendees to arrive directly after the lecture.

Columbia University

Stone joined Morgan Stanley directly after graduation from MIT Sloan.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider stronger synonyms like "immediately following" or "instantaneously after" to emphasize the immediate succession of events for increased impact.

Common error

Avoid assuming that because something happened "directly after" another event, it was necessarily caused by that event. Correlation does not equal causation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "directly after" functions as a prepositional phrase, indicating the temporal relationship between two events. It specifies that one event occurs immediately subsequent to another. As Ludwig shows, this is a common way to indicate timing in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Wiki

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "directly after" is a commonly used prepositional phrase that clearly indicates a temporal sequence with minimal delay. As demonstrated by Ludwig, it is grammatically correct and frequently found in diverse contexts, including news, science, academia, and informal writing. While "directly after" does not imply causation, ensure clarity in its usage. According to Ludwig AI, this phrase is suitable for both formal and informal registers, offering writers a straightforward way to express immediacy in event sequencing. Consider alternatives like "immediately following" or "right after" to subtly alter the tone or emphasis. Pay attention to potential misunderstandings regarding causation, ensuring the context clarifies the actual relationship between events.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

immediately following

Emphasizes the instantaneous nature of the succession.

right after

More informal alternative, suitable for casual contexts.

instantaneously after

Highlights the immediate sequence of events with even greater emphasis.

subsequent to

A more formal and somewhat distanced temporal relationship.

in the wake of

Suggests a causal relationship alongside the temporal sequence.

on the heels of

Indicates that something follows closely and quickly.

forthwith after

An older, slightly archaic synonym emphasizing immediacy.

upon completion of

Focuses on the finishing of the first action as a trigger for the next.

as soon as

Highlights the lack of delay between events.

post

A succinct and concise synonym used to relate the temporal context.

FAQs

How can I use "directly after" in a sentence?

Use "directly after" to indicate that one event follows another with no delay. For instance, "The concert started "immediately after" the opening act finished".

What are some alternatives to "directly after"?

Alternatives include "immediately following", "right after", or "subsequent to" depending on the desired level of formality and emphasis.

Is there a difference between "directly after" and "immediately after"?

"Directly after" and "immediately after" are very similar, both indicating a very short time between two events. "Immediately after" might emphasize the lack of any delay even more strongly.

Can "directly after" imply causation?

While "directly after" indicates a temporal relationship, it doesn't necessarily imply causation. Be careful not to assume one event caused another simply because it happened "shortly after".