later became

USAGE SUMMARY

"later became" is a perfectly acceptable phrase to use in written English.
It is often used when referring to an event or a thing that happened at some point in the past and is no longer the case in the present. For example, "The old house became rundown over time, and later became an abandoned ruin."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

(Idlewild later became Kennedy).

The New York Times

The man later became "unresponsive".

Independent

The two later became friends.

The Economist

He later became its chairman.

The New York Times

(She later became his wife).

The New York Times - Sports

He later became an innkeeper.

Encyclopedia Britannica

These canals later became obsolete.

Encyclopedia Britannica

(They later became friends).

The New Yorker

Both later became comprehensives.

The Guardian

Both later became teachers.

The Guardian

He later became a sports journalist.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "later became" to clearly indicate a transformation or evolution that occurred in the past. Ensure that the context provides a clear timeframe or sequence of events to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "later become" when referring to a past event. The correct form, "later became", indicates that the transformation has already occurred. For example, it's correct to say "The team later became the champions", not "The team later become the champions".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "later became" functions as a linking verb phrase to indicate a change of state or identity over time. It connects a subject with a new identity or condition that it assumed at a later point. Ludwig provides examples from various sources to illustrate its use.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Encyclopedias

22%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Science

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "later became" is a common and grammatically correct phrase used to indicate a transformation or evolution over time. Ludwig AI confirms its acceptability and provides numerous examples from diverse sources, including news outlets, encyclopedias, and wikis. The phrase is suitable for various contexts, maintaining a neutral register. While "later became" is widely used, alternative phrases like "eventually became" or "subsequently turned into" can offer nuanced variations. When using the phrase, ensure the tense is correct and the context is clear to avoid ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

eventually became

Replaces "later" with "eventually", emphasizing the gradual nature of the transformation.

subsequently turned into

Uses "turned into" instead of "became", adding a sense of active transformation.

in time evolved into

Emphasizes a natural and gradual development over time.

over time developed into

Highlights the gradual progression and emergence of a new state.

was eventually transformed into

Adds emphasis on the transformation process, suggesting a more significant change.

came to be known as

Focuses on the change in designation or recognition.

would later be known as

Adds a sense of predestination or future recognition.

eventually grew into

Implies a natural process of growth and development.

in due course became

Indicates that the change occurred after a certain period of time.

ultimately materialized as

Suggests a final and concrete form resulting from a process of change.

FAQs

How can I use "later became" in a sentence?

Use "later became" to indicate that something transformed into something else over time. For example: "The small village later became a bustling city."

What are some alternatives to "later became"?

You can use alternatives like "eventually became", "subsequently turned into", or "in time evolved into" depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "later become" instead of "later became"?

No, "later become" is grammatically incorrect when referring to a past event. The correct form is "later became", which uses the past tense of the verb "become".

What's the difference between "later became" and "then became"?

"Later became" indicates a transformation that occurred at some unspecified point in the future from a given reference point. "Then became" implies a more immediate sequence of events. For example, "He studied hard and later became a doctor" versus "He graduated and then became a doctor".