later dinner

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "later dinner" is not correct in standard written English.
It may be intended to refer to a dinner that occurs at a later time, but it is not a commonly used expression. Example: "We can have a later dinner if you prefer to meet after 7 PM."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

16 human-written examples

A later dinner also produced mixed results.

The New York Times

– Late lunch and then, later, dinner in Sante Fe.

The Guardian - Travel

Late lunch and then, later, dinner in Santa Fe.

The Guardian - Travel

At a later dinner we decided to try again.

The New York Times

(At a later dinner, they were juicy with a great, meaty taste).

The New York Times

The most unusual starter at Kiku Sushi was baby octopus, which was ordered by my companion at a later dinner.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

42 human-written examples

Later, after dinner, Williams read some poetry, then they retired for the evening.

BBC

Then a few hours later, after dinner, another seizure.

Huffington Post

This sentiment was shared by the guests and was expressed at later dinners across the United States.

Wikipedia

I meant not to eat because I knew what was coming later… Dinner Kitchen Table on Charlotte Street, for a review – though you'll have to wait until 10 November to read it.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Later, at dinner, they bumped into each other again.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When indicating a dinner that will occur at a time after an earlier event, use the phrase "dinner later" or "dinner at a later time" for better clarity and grammatical correctness.

Common error

Do not use the phrase "later dinner" in formal writing. Opt for clearer alternatives such as "dinner at a later time" to maintain grammatical correctness and avoid ambiguity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "later dinner" functions as a noun phrase, specifying a dinner event that occurs at a subsequent or delayed time. As Ludwig AI indicates, the phrase is not considered standard written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

81%

Wiki

13%

Science

6%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "later dinner" is frequently used, it is considered grammatically incorrect in standard written English. According to Ludwig AI, alternatives such as "dinner later" or "dinner at a later time" are preferable. Predominantly found in news and media contexts, the phrase communicates the rescheduling or postponement of a meal. For formal communication, it's best to opt for grammatically sound alternatives to ensure clarity and professionalism. Although the term is quite common, it doesn't conform to traditional English syntax.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

dinner at a later time

Replaces 'later' with a more explicit and grammatically standard phrase.

dinner afterwards

Swaps 'later' for 'afterwards', focusing on the sequential aspect of the meal.

dinner at a subsequent hour

Formal replacement using 'subsequent hour' instead of 'later'.

subsequent dinner

Emphasizes that the dinner follows a previous event or meal.

delayed dinner

A shorter version, emphasizing the delay.

dinner delayed

Highlights the postponement of the dinner.

evening meal afterwards

Replaces both 'later' and 'dinner' to offer a slightly different perspective.

dinner rescheduled

Focuses on the act of changing the dinner's original time.

dinner pushed back

Emphasizes the action of postponing the dinner.

dinner at a postponed hour

Similar to delayed dinner, but more specific.

FAQs

How can I use the idea of "later dinner" in a sentence correctly?

Instead of "later dinner", use "dinner later" or "dinner at a "later time"". Example: "We can have dinner later if you're busy now."

What's a more formal way to say "later dinner"?

For formal contexts, replace "later dinner" with "dinner at a "subsequent time"" or "dinner at a "later hour"".

Is "later dinner" grammatically correct?

While commonly used, "later dinner" is not considered grammatically correct in standard written English. It's preferable to say "dinner later" or "dinner at a "later time"".

What does "later dinner" mean?

"Later dinner" refers to having dinner at a time that is "afterwards" or "at a subsequent time" than originally planned or expected.