just after

USAGE SUMMARY

"just after" is a perfectly valid phrase and is commonly used in written English.
For example: Just after she finished her shift, she realized she had forgotten her phone.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

She's just after attention".

The New Yorker

Just after 2 p.m.

The New York Times

Just after 8 a.m.

The New York Times

MANILA — Just after 1 a.m.

The New York Times

We arrive just after 11am.

Independent

It was just after dusk.

The New York Times

Just after Lawrence's death, Lieut.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Just after midnight, it came.

The New York Times

It was just after 11.

Princeton University

Just after 1 a.m.

The Washington Post

Just after Montaigne.

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "just after" to describe time, be precise to avoid ambiguity. For example, "just after 5 p.m." is more informative than "just after dinner".

Common error

Avoid using "just after" when the events are not closely related in time. If there's a significant gap, use a phrase like "later" or "some time after" for better accuracy.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "just after" functions as a temporal preposition, indicating the timing of an event in relation to another. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a valid and common phrase. Examples from Ludwig show its use to specify when something occurred, like "just after midnight" or "just after lunch".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

46%

Academia

25%

Science

24%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

2%

Formal & Business

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "just after" is a versatile temporal preposition used to specify the timing of events in relation to each other. As Ludwig AI highlights, it’s a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase. It functions to establish chronological order and is suitable for various writing styles, maintaining a largely neutral register. Its prevalence in News & Media, Academia, and Science underscores its widespread applicability. When aiming for more elevated formality, consider "immediately following" or other similar alternatives. It's important to ensure that the events described using "just after" are genuinely close in time to prevent ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

immediately following

Emphasizes the immediacy of the sequence of events.

directly after

Indicates a very close temporal succession.

shortly thereafter

Uses a more formal tone to convey the same meaning.

soon after

A simpler and more general way of expressing the sequence.

in the wake of

Often used when the initial event has consequences or implications.

subsequent to

A more formal and less common alternative.

on the heels of

Suggests the second event follows very closely and possibly as a result of the first.

right behind

Implies minimal time has passed between the events.

post

A prefix denoting "after" in a more technical context, often used with nouns.

following closely

Highlights the tight temporal relationship between the occurrences.

FAQs

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

The phrase "just after" is used to indicate that something happens immediately or very soon after a specific event or time. For example, "They arrived "just after us"" or "Just after midnight, it came."

What are some alternatives to the phrase "just after"?

Alternatives to "just after" include "immediately following", "directly after", "shortly thereafter", or "soon after", depending on the context and desired level of formality.

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

While both phrases indicate a close temporal relationship, "immediately after" emphasizes a more instantaneous sequence, whereas "just after" allows for a slightly broader, though still short, time frame. The choice depends on the desired nuance.

Can "just after" be used in formal writing?

Yes, "just after" is suitable for both formal and informal writing. However, in very formal contexts, consider alternatives like "subsequent to" or "following" for a more elevated tone.