just afterwards

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "just afterwards" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something happened immediately following another event. Example: "She finished her presentation and just afterwards, the audience erupted in applause."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

21 human-written examples

You see the picture as it happens, not just afterwards".

Independent

Just afterwards, you'll hit a huge roundabout, Trg Slavija.

The Guardian - Travel

Just afterwards, she remembers working at the Royal Court, still breast-feeding.

The Guardian

Let's say some time between 1973 and the Queen's Silver Jubilee, or just afterwards.

The Guardian - Books

Just afterwards, Deon is kidnapped by three thugs who force him to assemble an artificially intelligent robot.

The Economist

And it's important to ask the tough questions and get the tough answers before taking action, not just afterwards.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

39 human-written examples

Prior to his death, I'd been a good student but afterwards, I just stopped being interested.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Not just during college, but afterwards.

Los Angeles Times

Just days afterwards, Hatton says, "I wanted to make a comeback, to prove myself".

Independent

"I came here for an all-night horror show before this and just stayed afterwards," he said.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

I won't always be a slave to it; I don't always look at it – sometimes, I just look afterwards.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "just afterwards" to clearly indicate that an event occurred very shortly after another, creating a sense of immediacy and direct sequence in your writing.

Common error

While generally acceptable, excessive use of "just afterwards" in formal or academic writing can make the text sound less sophisticated. Consider using alternatives like "immediately after" or "subsequently" in those situations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "just afterwards" functions as an adverbial phrase. According to Ludwig AI, it modifies a verb, clause, or sentence to indicate the timing of an action or event. As shown in the examples, it specifies when something happened in relation to a prior event.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

62%

Science

25%

Wiki

13%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "just afterwards" is a common and grammatically correct adverbial phrase used to indicate that something happened immediately following another event. Ludwig AI confirms its validity. While appropriate for most writing contexts, it's best to consider more formal alternatives like "immediately after" or "subsequently" in highly formal or academic writing. It is frequently found in news and media sources, while appearing less in formal business contexts. When aiming for immediacy and clear sequencing, "just afterwards" is a suitable choice.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

immediately after

Emphasizes the lack of delay between two events more strongly than "just afterwards".

right after

A more informal alternative, carrying the same meaning of immediate succession.

shortly thereafter

A more formal and literary alternative, indicating a brief period of time following an event.

directly following

A formal alternative, stressing the consecutive nature of the events.

immediately following

Similar to 'directly following' but with a stronger emphasis on the lack of delay.

soon after

Implies a slightly longer interval than "just afterwards", but still within a close timeframe.

subsequently

A formal term for 'afterwards' that doesn't necessarily imply immediate succession.

thereupon

An archaic and highly formal term indicating that something followed immediately from something else.

in the immediate aftermath

Focuses on the period following a significant event, implying potential consequences or disruption.

on the heels of

Suggests that the second event closely followed the first, almost as if chasing it.

FAQs

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

You can use "just afterwards" to indicate that something occurred immediately after a previous event. For example, "The bell rang, and "just afterwards", the students rushed out of the classroom."

What are some alternatives to "just afterwards"?

Alternatives include "immediately after", "right after", or "shortly thereafter". The best choice depends on the formality and specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "just afterwards" formal or informal?

"Just afterwards" leans towards the informal side, but is still appropriate for most general writing. For highly formal contexts, consider alternatives such as "immediately following".

What's the difference between "just afterwards" and "later"?

"Just afterwards" implies a very short time interval, while "later" suggests a more extended or unspecified duration after the initial event. "She finished the test and "just afterwards" went to lunch" versus "She finished the test and "later" went to lunch".