later that dinner

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "later that dinner" is not correct in English.
It seems to be a mix-up of phrases and does not convey a clear meaning. An example of a corrected phrase could be: "Later that evening, we had dinner together."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

I went to the kitchen to pour myself a drink, bringing it with me to the dining table when Chitra announced, a few minutes later, that dinner was ready.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Ms. Pratico, then living on the Upper East Side, met them later that day for dinner.

The New York Times

Later that night, over dinner, he asked Ms. Fleischman to marry him with a piece of string.

The New York Times

Later that night, at dinner with a friend, I whip out my shiny new pack of cards eager to demonstrate my newfound skills.

The Guardian

He soon became a ringleader in planning team activities, helping to organize a golf outing and, later that night, a dinner.

The New York Times - Sports

Later that day, over dinner in a private Catalan castle, I am sitting opposite Hollywood's Heather Graham and Jason Silva, her film-producer boyfriend, who have also flown in for the feast, watching as the star of Boogie Nights and The Hangover delicately transfers her food from her plate to her partner's.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Later that day over dinner, Broeg asked Cardinals traveling secretary Leo Ward if he had understood what the Dodger fans had been chanting.

Wikipedia

Later that night at dinner, Penn wrote, Guzman pours them tequila and tells her: "I don't usually drink … but I want to drink with you".

Huffington Post

That concept was reinforced later that night at our dinner at a one-Michelin-starred restaurant where the creative swirls and strokes made more mischief than magic.

The New York Times - Travel

Brushing it off as his form of greeting, she said, she agreed to meet Trump for dinner later that year when he travelled to Los Angeles.

The Guardian

Brushing it off as his form of greeting, she said, she agreed to meet Trump for dinner later that year when he traveled to Los Angeles.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase “later that dinner” as it is not grammatically correct. Opt for clearer alternatives such as “later that evening” or “after dinner” to ensure your writing is easily understood.

Common error

A common mistake is to directly combine “later” with a specific noun like "dinner" without proper connecting words. Instead, use phrases like "later that day", "later that evening", or "after dinner" to maintain grammatical accuracy and clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "later that dinner" functions as an adverbial phrase, attempting to specify the time when something occurred in relation to a particular dinner. However, its structure deviates from standard English usage, as noted by Ludwig AI.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Wiki

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

34%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "later that dinner" is grammatically incorrect and rarely used in standard English. Ludwig AI confirms this assessment, highlighting its non-standard structure. While sources such as The New York Times and The Guardian contain examples, the phrase is not considered proper English. For clearer communication, it's best to use alternatives like "later that evening" or "after dinner", which provide similar meaning while adhering to grammatical norms. Using such alternatives ensures your writing is easily understood and maintains a professional tone.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

dinner later that evening

More specific about the time of day when dinner occurred.

dinner later that night

Similar to 'evening' but emphasizes the nighttime aspect.

dinner in the evening

Indicates that dinner took place during the evening hours.

dinner afterwards

Focuses on the sequence of events, placing dinner after a previous activity.

dinner that followed

Highlights that dinner was the subsequent event.

subsequent dinner

A more concise way to say dinner happened after something else.

the ensuing dinner

dinner that followed a particular event or activity.

dinner the same day

Emphasizes that dinner happened on the same day as another event.

dinner that day

A more general way to refer to dinner on a particular day.

dinner on that occasion

Focuses on the specific instance or event.

FAQs

What is a grammatically correct alternative to "later that dinner"?

Instead of "later that dinner", you can use phrases like "later that evening", "later that night", or "after dinner" to ensure grammatical correctness and clarity.

Is "later that dinner" commonly used in English?

No, "later that dinner" is not a commonly used phrase in English. It is more typical to say "later that day" or "after dinner".

What does "later that dinner" mean, and why is it not preferred?

"Later that dinner" is likely intended to mean "the dinner later that day" or refers to events occurring after dinner. However, its phrasing is awkward and can confuse readers. Clearer alternatives are preferable.

Can I use "later that dinner" in formal writing?

No, it is not advisable to use "later that dinner" in formal writing. Opt for more standard and grammatically sound options such as "later that evening" or "after dinner" to maintain a professional tone.