however afterwards

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "however afterwards" is not correct and is generally not usable in written English.
The word "however" typically serves as a conjunction or transition, while "afterwards" indicates a time sequence, making their combination awkward. Example: "I wanted to go for a walk; however, afterwards, it started to rain."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

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 it could be energetically often more favorable to remain as half-animal as nutritional reserves might be already critically low for supporting whole-body regeneration.

Nature

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

BBC

However, afterwards these experiments now seem beautiful after all.

European Journal of Futures Research

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

However, soon afterwards Murray secured the set with an ace.

The Guardian - Sport

However, soon afterwards Iranian politicians decided to change course.

The Guardian - Opinion

I had had a miscarriage a year earlier however, but afterwards our first child arrived without any problems.

The New York Times

However, shortly afterwards the ABC reported officers loyal to Baki had chained Damaru's office shut and weren't letting anyone near it.

The Guardian

However, immediately afterwards they convicted the star of The Thick of It on 15 counts of making an indecent photograph of a child between September and November 2005.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To improve clarity, consider replacing the phrase "however afterwards" with alternatives like "however, later" or "but subsequently". This makes the relationship between contrasting ideas and sequential events more explicit.

Common error

Avoid using "however afterwards" as it can sound redundant and disrupt the flow of your writing. The combination of a contrastive conjunction and a temporal adverb can often be better expressed with a more direct construction.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "however afterwards" functions as a conjunction phrase, attempting to connect contrasting ideas with a temporal sequence. As Ludwig AI indicates, this combination is often considered awkward and grammatically questionable.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Wiki

23%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Academia

3%

Formal & Business

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "however afterwards" attempts to combine a contrastive conjunction with a temporal adverb, but Ludwig AI flags it as grammatically questionable and often resulting in awkward phrasing. While it appears across diverse sources like News & Media, Science, and Wiki, its usage is infrequent. For improved clarity and flow, consider alternatives such as "however, later" or "but subsequently". These options more clearly express the relationship between contrasting ideas and sequential events, enhancing the overall readability and professionalism of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

however, later

Replaces "afterwards" with a simpler temporal marker, maintaining the contrast.

but subsequently

Uses "subsequently" to indicate a following event with a stronger sense of sequence than "afterwards".

yet thereafter

"Thereafter" provides a more formal alternative to "afterwards", suitable for academic or legal contexts.

nevertheless, after that

Breaks down the phrase into "after that" for clarity, while retaining the contrast with "nevertheless".

nonetheless, following this

"Following this" explicitly indicates the temporal sequence, offering a direct alternative to "afterwards".

however, in the aftermath

Focuses on the period following an event, emphasizing the consequences or results.

but, in due course

"In due course" suggests that something happens at an appropriate or expected time after a previous event.

yet, down the line

"Down the line" informally indicates a later point in time, suitable for casual contexts.

however, with time

"With time" shifts the focus to the gradual unfolding of events, implying a more extended duration.

still, as time passed

"As time passed" emphasizes the passage of time, providing a narrative perspective on subsequent events.

FAQs

Is "however afterwards" grammatically correct?

While sometimes used, "however afterwards" is generally considered awkward and grammatically questionable. It's better to use alternatives like "however, later" or "but subsequently" for clearer writing.

What's a better way to say "however afterwards" in formal writing?

In formal writing, replace "however afterwards" with options such as "nevertheless, after that" or "yet thereafter". These alternatives provide a more polished and professional tone.

How can I use "however" and "afterwards" correctly in the same sentence?

Separate "however" and "afterwards" with a comma and structure the sentence to clearly indicate contrast and sequence. For example, "I wanted to go for a walk; "however, afterwards", it started to rain" can be revised to "I wanted to go for a walk; however, it started to rain later".

What's the difference between "however afterwards" and "but subsequently"?

"However afterwards" can be considered awkward, whereas "but subsequently" provides a smoother and more grammatically accepted way to indicate a contrast followed by a sequence of events. "But subsequently" is often preferred for its clarity and flow.