not long thereafter

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "not long thereafter" is correct and usable in written English.
You would use it to indicate that something happened shortly after another event. For example: After he arrived home, his family gathered for dinner not long thereafter.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Not long thereafter, letters and money stopped.

Encyclopedia Britannica

His father died not long thereafter.

The New York Times - Books

Not long thereafter, that's what I did.

The New Yorker

Not long thereafter, word spread far beyond that prison.

The New York Times

Not long thereafter, though, the whole process seemed to run into the sand.

The Guardian - Opinion

Not long thereafter, prosecutors tried to disqualify Mr. Critchley and his co-counsel on procedural grounds.

The New York Times

Not long thereafter, they'll be teaching penguins to do the devil's horns with their flippers.

The Guardian - Music

Not long thereafter, Robert's own best friend, Jay, was diagnosed as HIV positive and died soon thereafter.

Columbia University

Not long thereafter, Michelin, the highly profitable French tire maker, announced that it would eliminate 7,500 jobs across Europe.

The New York Times

Joshua Muss saw it, called the firm and not long thereafter had Donald Sandy walking the Raritan Bay waterfront.

The New York Times

When the importer went bust not long thereafter, Mr. Hughes saw a place for himself in the wine world.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "not long thereafter" to create a smooth transition between events, emphasizing the close temporal relationship.

Common error

Avoid using "not long thereafter" in highly informal writing; opt for simpler alternatives like "soon after" or "shortly after" to maintain a natural tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "not long thereafter" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to indicate the timing of an event. It specifies that something happened shortly after a previous event. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

57%

Academia

19%

Encyclopedias

5%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Science

2%

Formal & Business

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "not long thereafter" is a grammatically sound and frequently used adverbial phrase that indicates an event occurred shortly after another. As Ludwig AI points out, it is best suited for formal or neutral writing, establishing a clear chronological sequence. Its presence in authoritative sources such as The New York Times, academic papers, and encyclopedias confirms its credibility. For less formal contexts, alternatives like "soon after" or "shortly after" might be more appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

shortly afterwards

Replaces "thereafter" with "afterwards", maintaining a similar level of formality.

shortly after that

Emphasizes the short time interval between events.

soon after that

Uses a more common and slightly less formal phrasing.

not much later

Highlights the brevity of the intervening period.

directly following that

Stresses the immediate sequence of events.

in short order

Implies the event happened quickly and efficiently.

in quick succession

Highlights that events follow one another rapidly.

in the immediate aftermath

Focuses on the period right after a significant event.

presently

A more formal and somewhat archaic way to indicate something happening soon.

by and by

An older, less precise way of saying something happened after some time.

FAQs

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

You can use "not long thereafter" to indicate that an event occurred shortly after a previous one. For example, "The meeting concluded, and "not long thereafter", everyone went home."

What are some alternatives to "not long thereafter"?

Alternatives include "shortly afterwards", "soon after that", or "shortly after that".

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

"Not long after" and "not long thereafter" are similar, but "not long thereafter" is more formal and emphasizes the sequence of events more strongly.

When is it appropriate to use "not long thereafter" in writing?

It's appropriate to use "not long thereafter" in formal writing, historical accounts, or when you want to create a sense of narrative flow and emphasize the chronological order of events.