it was not long after

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'it was not long after' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate that something happened shortly after some other event. For example: "It was not long after she graduated that she got a job offer."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

53 human-written examples

It was not long after the stock market started its tumble that Japanese real estate followed suit.

Forbes

It was not long after midnight.

The Guardian - Books

It was not long after dawn on Monday.

Independent

It was not long after that Pooley caught the virus.

The Guardian

"It was not long after Beckett's death [in 1989].

The Guardian

It was not long after that I saw him in the revolving door.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

7 human-written examples

It wasn't long after Mr. Bush and his C.E.O.

The New York Times

It wasn't long after that I realized I was now failing chemistry.

The New York Times

It wasn't long after that that Tonto and the Ranger went their separate ways.

The New Yorker

It wasn't long after her arrival that she noticed Mr. Murphy.

The New York Times

It wasn't long after the abuse began that I met Mal, aged 29.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it was not long after" to create a sense of temporal proximity between two events, highlighting that the second event occurred soon after the first. This can be useful in narratives or explanations where timing is important.

Common error

Avoid using "it was not long after" repeatedly within a short passage. Vary your sentence structure and use synonyms like "shortly after" or "soon after" to maintain reader engagement and prevent the text from becoming monotonous.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it was not long after" functions as an adverbial phrase indicating temporal proximity. It connects two events, emphasizing that the second event occurred shortly after the first. Ludwig AI shows its frequent usage in connecting events in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Academia

15%

Science

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Wiki

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "it was not long after" is a versatile phrase used to indicate that something happened shortly after a previous event. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and frequently used, especially in news, media, and academic contexts. While the phrase is generally neutral, remember to vary your sentence structure and avoid overuse. Consider synonyms like "shortly after" or "soon after" to enhance readability. The phrase effectively establishes temporal proximity, aiding narrative flow and emphasizing cause-and-effect relationships.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

shortly after

A more concise and direct alternative, lacking the slight emphasis on duration that "it was not long after" provides.

soon after

Similar in meaning, but slightly less formal and with a stronger sense of immediacy.

immediately following

More formal and emphasizes the direct sequential relationship between the events.

in the immediate aftermath of

Highlights the period directly following an event, often implying a sense of consequence or disruption.

not much later

Informal and emphasizes the brevity of the time interval.

subsequently

A formal term indicating that something happened at a later or subsequent time.

thereafter

A formal and somewhat archaic term indicating 'after that' or 'afterward'.

in short order

Emphasizes that something happened quickly and efficiently after a prior event.

before long

Indicates that something happened sooner than expected.

on the heels of

Suggests that one event closely and quickly followed another.

FAQs

How can I use "it was not long after" in a sentence?

Use "it was not long after" to connect two events that occurred in close succession. For example, "It was not long after the meeting that the decision was made."

What are some alternatives to "it was not long after"?

You can use alternatives such as "shortly after", "soon after", or "immediately following" depending on the level of formality required.

Is "it was not long after" formal or informal?

"It was not long after" is generally considered neutral in tone and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, although more concise options may be preferred in very formal writing.

What's the difference between "it was not long after" and "it was a long time after"?

"It was not long after" indicates that something happened shortly after a previous event, whereas "it was a long time after" suggests a significant delay between the events.