later yesterday

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "later yesterday" is not standard in written English and may cause confusion.
It could be used informally to refer to a time that occurred later in the day before the current day. Example: "I received the email later yesterday, but I didn't have time to respond until today."

News & Media

Sports

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Schembechler denied these three statements later yesterday afternoon.

The New York Times - Sports

In a written reply later yesterday, Mr. Dolan said he was "extremely disappointed" with ImClone's response.

The New York Times

But Dishman agreed to a contract later yesterday with the Minnesota Vikings.

The New York Times - Sports

At the station entrance later yesterday, the smell of charred metal lingered in the air.

The New York Times

And later yesterday, she filed for divorce, The Associated Press reported.

The New York Times

He was taken to New York University Downtown Hospital, where he died later yesterday.

The New York Times

The customer was pronounced dead at St . Barnabas Hospital andMr. Roman died later yesterday morning.

The New York Times

Police officers were seen removing a silver-colored pistol from the residence later yesterday morning.

The New York Times

Later yesterday, another guard was slightly hurt when a prisoner threw a coffee can at him from his cell.

The New York Times

Two men who are suspected of conspiring with Donaghy — Thomas Martino, 41, and James Battista, 42 — were arraigned later yesterday.

The New York Times - Sports

The equipment was bombed later yesterday by the Israeli airforce in an attempt to stop Hizbullah in its tracks.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

If you are writing for a formal audience, consider using clearer alternatives such as "yesterday afternoon" or "yesterday evening" for better precision.

Common error

Avoid using "later yesterday" in situations where the reader might not know which day is being referenced as 'yesterday'. Always provide enough context to prevent confusion. If writing for an international audience or if the text will be read at different times, specifying the date explicitly may be preferable.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "later yesterday" functions as an adverbial phrase of time, modifying a verb to indicate when an action occurred. It specifies that the action happened at some point in the afternoon or evening of the day preceding the present day. Ludwig shows many examples where it specifies when an event occurred.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Sports

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "later yesterday" is a common adverbial phrase used to denote an event occurring during the afternoon or evening of the day before the present. As Ludwig confirms, it's most frequently found in news and media contexts, providing a temporal reference point for readers. While generally acceptable, it may be perceived as informal in academic or highly professional settings, where more precise or formal alternatives like "yesterday afternoon" or "the previous day" might be preferred. It's important to provide sufficient context when using "later yesterday" to prevent any ambiguity regarding the day being referenced. While Ludwig AI considers the phrase acceptable, being mindful of the audience and the context will help to decide whether to use this phrase or a more precise alternative.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

yesterday afternoon

Specifies a time of day, providing more clarity than just "later yesterday".

yesterday evening

Similar to 'yesterday afternoon', but refers specifically to the evening period.

earlier that day

Refers to a time in the past within the day before the current day.

the previous day

More formal way to say "yesterday".

the day before today

A more descriptive way to express "yesterday".

on the prior day

A formal and less common way to express yesterday.

in the latter part of yesterday

More verbose, emphasizing the timing within yesterday.

subsequently yesterday

Formal and emphasizes the sequence of events in yesterday.

later in the previous day

Combines formality and a more descriptive timing.

some time yesterday

Implies the time is not specified.

FAQs

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

You can use "later yesterday" to indicate that something occurred in the afternoon or evening of the day before today. For instance, "The announcement was made "later yesterday", after the meeting concluded."

What are some alternatives to "later yesterday"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "yesterday afternoon", "yesterday evening", or "the previous day".

Is "later yesterday" too informal for academic writing?

While acceptable in some contexts, "later yesterday" can be considered informal for academic writing. Consider using "the previous day" or specifying the time of day (e.g. "yesterday afternoon") for a more formal tone.

What's the difference between "later yesterday" and "earlier yesterday"?

"Later yesterday" refers to the afternoon or evening of the day before today, while "earlier yesterday" would refer to the morning or early part of the day before today.