not long later

USAGE SUMMARY

'not long later' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate that something happened a short amount of time after something else. For example, "John left the room and not long later, Jane entered."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

Serious it was; he got down on one knee not long later.

Independent

But not long later, she's dealing with the facts of her own mystery remarkably calmly.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Soon James was calling him my "Scottish boyfriend" and not long later Martyn and I made that official.

The Guardian

The captain went for one just after lunch, not long later we were 132 for six, and as an Australian fan you thought: "Here we go again".

The Guardian - Sport

Not long later Taylor, in an Akubra hat, chunky sideburns and rolled-up flannel shirt, emerges from the darkness to tow their car to his property.

The Guardian - Film

Gameiro broke the deadlock in the 55th minute with an arrowed first-time finish and his fellow French striker partner clinched the Spanish side's fifth win in five Champions League games with a near-post finish not long later.

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

Sudirman visited Madiun not long after the battle, later telling his wife that he had been unable to sleep there for all the bloodshed.

Wikipedia

And according to Hello! magazine, not long after, Swift was later seen in the DJ booth with Harris at one of his Las Vegas shows, along with her friends Ellie Goulding, Selena Gomez and members of the band Haim.

Huffington Post

One book ("My Return") and 21 years later, not long after a parole request was denied, Abbott hanged himself in his cell with bedsheets and a shoelace.

The New York Times

Less than 20 minutes later, not long after pounding his chest with his racket, he finished off a 5-7, 6-1, 5-7, 6-2, 7-5 victhat that not only broke up the Rafa-Roger dream final but — win or lose in Sunday's final — also redefined Djokovic for a global audience.

The New York Times - Sports

A few years later, not long after the White Stripes went on hiatus, a whole new scene of young, forward-thinking trendy bands came out and it became totally unacceptable for people in bands to wear flares and cowboy shirts again.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "not long later" to clearly establish a temporal sequence where the second event closely follows the first. For example, "The rain stopped, and "not long later", the sun came out".

Common error

While "not long later" is acceptable in many contexts, it can sound too informal for academic or highly professional writing. Consider more sophisticated alternatives like "subsequently" or "thereafter".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "not long later" functions as an adverbial phrase of time. Ludwig AI confirms that it modifies a verb or clause to indicate when an event occurred, specifically a short time after a previous event.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

13%

Science

13%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "not long later" is a grammatically sound and commonly used phrase that serves as an adverbial phrase of time. Ludwig AI validates its correctness and utility in indicating that an event occurred a short time after another. It is prevalent in news media and general writing but less so in formal academic or scientific contexts. When writing, keep in mind that although considered correct, is less suitable in formal writing, for which options like "subsequently" are preferrable. While very similar in meaning, remember the subtle difference with "not long after", which puts more emphasis on sequence of events, in contrast with "not long later", which emphasizes passage of time.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

not much later

Similar meaning, but stresses the minimal amount of time passed.

shortly thereafter

Emphasizes the immediate succession of events.

soon after that

Highlights the quick passage of time between events.

shortly afterwards

Similar to 'shortly thereafter' but with a slightly different emphasis.

in short order

Implies that the second event happened quickly and efficiently.

before long

Indicates that the second event occurred sooner than expected.

in a little while

Highlights the brief duration before the next event.

after a brief period

More formal and descriptive, specifying a short duration.

in due course

Suggests the event happened at the expected time, but relatively soon.

at the first opportunity

Implies an eagerness or readiness for the second event to occur.

FAQs

How can I use "not long later" in a sentence?

Use "not long later" to show that something happened shortly after something else. For instance, "She finished her presentation and, "not long later", received a standing ovation".

What is a synonym for "not long later"?

Alternatives to "not long later" include "shortly thereafter", "soon after that", or "shortly afterwards". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is "not long after" the same as "not long later"?

"Not long after" and "not long later" are very similar in meaning and often interchangeable. However, "not long later" focuses more on the passage of time, while "not long after" emphasizes the sequence of events.

Can I use "not long later" in formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "not long later" might be considered too informal for highly formal contexts. In such cases, consider using phrases like "subsequently" or "thereafter".