it was later when

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it was later when" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate that something occurred after a specific time or event in a narrative context. Example: "It was later when I realized the importance of that decision."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

It was later, when they became more comfortable with me, that I started getting into the emotional aspects of their story.

The New York Times

This was as true of hearing Hoagy Carmichael for the first time as it was later when I first heard Boulez.

The New York Times - Arts

But it was later, when the group added multi-instrument musicians, inventive vocals and hand claps that it developed its signature sound.

The Economist

It was later, when Maddy talked about saving her picture on a memory stick, that Sophie started planning an extreme simplicity, non-technological holiday.

The Guardian - Travel

It was later, when studying full-time at the Central, that he saw the mezzotints of the Japanese master, Yozo Hamaguchi, in a London gallery.

The Guardian

If they ever questioned their choices, it was later, when an inherent flaw became apparent in the ideal suburban lifestyle that was celebrated in all those women's magazines that drove Friedan nuts.

The New York Times - Magazine

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

If the company is behaviorally young and flexible, and the founder or leader is fully in control, making decisions is not as dangerous as it is later when the company is large and set in its ways.

HuffPost

It's later — when the grumpy, hungry children are older, when the baby is walking herself to school, when the wild immediacy of life has calmed — that the full impact of the change intrudes itself.

The New York Times

But it's later, when we've won, that the real difficulties will begin".

Huffington Post

Comparing the rate of T1 transitions with the amount of shear they generate shows that the orientation of T1 transitions at this time is less focused than it is later when T1 transitions cause shear in the PD axis.

eLife

I saw horrors and tried to imagine how it would be later when the bodies were sewn up.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it was later when" to clearly indicate a sequence of events, ensuring that the context makes the temporal relationship obvious. For example, "The meeting started late; it was later when the key decisions were made".

Common error

Avoid using "it was later when" without providing clear context about the initial event or time frame. Ensure the reader understands what the 'later' is in relation to. Instead of saying "It was later when I understood", be specific: "After reviewing the data, it was later when I understood the error".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it was later when" functions as a temporal conjunction, connecting two clauses and indicating that the event described in the second clause occurred at a time subsequent to the event described in the first clause. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

62%

Science

21%

Wiki

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it was later when" serves as a temporal conjunction, linking events in a sequence. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical soundness and utility in indicating that an event occurred after a specific point in time. Although considered grammatically correct, the phrase should be used with clear context to avoid vagueness, and it benefits from being substituted by more concise alternatives where appropriate. Found most commonly in news and media contexts, it maintains a neutral register suitable for various applications.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it was afterwards when

Replaces "later" with "afterwards", emphasizing a subsequent occurrence.

it was subsequently when

Uses "subsequently" to formally indicate a following event.

it was then that

Changes the structure to emphasize the specific moment in time.

it was at that point when

Specifies a particular juncture when something happened.

it was in due course when

Implies that something happened in the natural or expected order of events.

it was in the aftermath when

Focuses on the period following an event.

only later did

Inverts the sentence structure to emphasize the delay.

not until later

Expresses a similar temporal relationship with a negative emphasis.

it transpired later that

More formally indicates that information came to light at a subsequent time.

as time passed, it became clear that

Phrases the event within a broader timeline.

FAQs

What does "it was later when" mean?

The phrase "it was later when" indicates that something occurred at a time subsequent to a previously mentioned event or point in time. It is used to establish a sequence of events.

How can I use "it was later when" in a sentence?

You can use "it was later when" to connect two related events where the second event happened after the first. For example, "The storm began in the morning; "it was later when" the power went out".

What are some alternatives to "it was later when"?

Alternatives include phrases like "it was afterwards when", "subsequently", or "it was then that", which offer similar ways to express a temporal sequence.

Is "it was later when" grammatically correct?

Yes, "it was later when" is grammatically correct and is used to establish a temporal relationship between two events. While slightly wordy, it is acceptable. Using alternatives such as "afterwards", or subsequently can improve conciseness.