later than

USAGE SUMMARY

"later than" is a correct and usable part of a sentence in written English.
You can use it to describe something that is occurring after a certain time or point in time. For example, "She arrived later than expected."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It's later than I think.

Independent

No later than tomorrow, sure.

The New Yorker

Players may vote later than Wednesday.

The New York Times

My wife usually sleeps later than me.

The New York Times

"No later than the end of '90.

The New York Times

And marriage occurs later than ever.

The New York Times - Magazine

He got there later than promised.

The New York Times

He stayed later than others.

The New York Times

no later than 15 April 2008.

Columbia University

This was somewhat later than expected.

Cornell University

Required no later than application deadline.

Stanford University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "later than" to clearly establish a temporal sequence or comparison between two events or times. Ensure the context makes the comparison clear.

Common error

Avoid using "later than" when a specific time reference is needed. Instead of saying "Meet me later than noon", specify "Meet me at 1 PM".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "later than" functions as a comparative adverbial phrase. It modifies verbs or clauses by specifying that an action or event occurs at a time subsequent to a given reference point. Ludwig AI confirms this aligns with standard English grammar.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Academia

42%

News & Media

40%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "later than" is a versatile comparative adverbial phrase used to indicate that something occurs after a specific time or event. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is grammatically correct and widely used across diverse contexts such as academia, news, and science. While it's essential to provide clear context when using "later than", its frequency and adaptability make it a valuable tool for establishing temporal relationships. Remember to specify the reference point to avoid ambiguity and ensure your writing is clear and precise.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

at a later time than

More verbose way of expressing the same concept.

subsequent to

Formal alternative emphasizing temporal sequence.

thereafter

Formal term indicating what happens after a point in time.

following

Indicates something that comes directly after.

at a subsequent stage

Focuses on stages or steps in a process.

after

Simple preposition indicating a temporal relationship.

at a more advanced stage

Emphasizes progress and development over time.

in the wake of

Describes an event that occurs as a result of something else.

beyond

Indicates something extending past a certain point or time.

downstream from

Describes a position further along in a process or sequence.

FAQs

How do you properly use "later than" in a sentence?

Use "later than" to compare the timing of two events, like "He arrived "later than expected"" or "The deadline is no "later than Friday"".

What are some alternatives to saying "later than"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "after", "subsequent to", or "at a "later time"".

Is it always necessary to specify a time or date when using "later than"?

While not always required, specifying a time or date provides clarity. If the context is ambiguous, include a reference point. For example, "The meeting will occur "later than the initial proposal"".

Can "later than" be used to compare things other than time?

While primarily used for time, "later than" can be metaphorically extended to sequence or priority. For instance, "Addressing security concerns is "later than establishing basic functionality"" implies a sequence of actions.