Used and loved by millions
Since I tried Ludwig back in 2017, I have been constantly using it in both editing and translation. Ever since, I suggest it to my translators at ProSciEditing.

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak
CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com
only subsequently that
Grammar usage guide and real-world examplesUSAGE SUMMARY
The phrase "only subsequently that" is not correct in English.
It seems to be a misconstruction; the correct form would typically be "only subsequently" or "only after that." Example: "The results were analyzed only subsequently, leading to new insights."
⚠ May contain grammatical issues
News & Media
Science
Alternative expressions(6)
Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Human-verified examples from authoritative sources
Exact Expressions
2 human-written examples
When that someone yanked him off his bike, he ran – realising only subsequently that his pursuers were uniformed police officers investigating a nearby robbery.
News & Media
It was only subsequently that he realised someone had worked all this out before: the white horse is already the symbol of Kent ("... the emblem of Horsa, the brother of Hengest, who defeated the King Vortigern near Aylesford... ..) Things often seem to work out like this for Wallinger.
News & Media
Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources
Similar Expressions
57 human-written examples
We could always go back to the next film, and it's only subsequently since that I realized what a big thing it is.
News & Media
It happens in this very multi-dimensional, immersive and often very confusing way and only subsequently is that it gets ordered and arranged.
News & Media
Psychology was better off autonomous, discovering empirically new laws and phenomena that only subsequently might or might not prove reducible to material interpretation.
Science
Consider for example the Sperling paradigm, in which subjects are flashed a grid of letters, and only subsequently given a tone that indicates which row to report (high for the top, medium for the middle, etc).
Science
The tendency to ground theory in a set of abstract principles that are only subsequently applied to practical problems makes it easy to ignore (bio ethically relevant particulars such as the unequal burden borne by women by virtue of their conventional reproductive and nurturing roles, or inequities between social and economic groups.
Science
Among the documents seized by the police at the time were bills carrying dates relating to contracts that were signed only subsequently.
News & Media
Only subsequently did it become evident that this lethality resulted from a requirement for IFT in Hh signalling, and that this was impacting tissues beyond the node (Huangfu et al., 2003).
Only subsequently did it turn against him.
News & Media
And subsequently that's exactly what happened.
News & Media
Expert writing Tips
Best practice
Avoid using the phrase "only subsequently that". It is generally considered grammatically incorrect. Opt for "only subsequently" or "only after that" instead.
Common error
A common mistake is inserting "that" after "only subsequently", which disrupts the flow and grammatical correctness. Remember to use "only subsequently" followed by the action or realization without the extra "that".
Source & Trust
87%
Authority and reliability
2.5/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested
Linguistic Context
The phrase "only subsequently that" attempts to function as an adverbial conjunction, indicating a temporal sequence where one event follows another. However, according to Ludwig, the inclusion of "that" is grammatically incorrect and disrupts the intended function.
Frequent in
News & Media
50%
Science
50%
Formal & Business
0%
Less common in
Academia
0%
Encyclopedias
0%
Social Media
0%
Ludwig's WRAP-UP
In summary, the phrase "only subsequently that" is generally considered grammatically incorrect and should be avoided. Ludwig indicates that omitting "that" results in the correct phrase "only subsequently", while alternatives like "only after that" also offer clarity. While the intention is to express a temporal sequence in a formal or neutral tone, the grammatical error undermines its effectiveness. When aiming for precision, favor grammatically sound alternatives to ensure clear communication. Though sometimes found in News & Media and Science sources, relying on such a phrase can introduce ambiguity. Ensure that any sentence using similar structures are grammatically sound to maintain clear communication.
More alternative expressions(6)
Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:
only subsequently
Omits "that", resulting in a grammatically correct phrase indicating something happened after.
only after that
Replaces "subsequently" with "after that", clarifying the temporal sequence.
only later that
Uses "later" instead of "subsequently", providing a more common alternative.
it was only subsequently that
Adds "it was" for emphasis, but maintaining the core temporal meaning.
only following that
Replaces "subsequently" with "following", another formal synonym.
only then that
Indicates a specific point in time after which something occurred.
only afterwards that
Similar to 'after that', but uses a single word for sequence.
only upon realizing that
Highlights the moment of realization as the trigger for the subsequent event.
only with hindsight that
Emphasizes that the realization came after the event and with the benefit of reflection.
it was only in retrospect that
Similar to 'with hindsight', stressing the retrospective understanding.
FAQs
Is "only subsequently that" grammatically correct?
No, the phrase "only subsequently that" is generally considered grammatically incorrect. It's better to use "only subsequently" or "only after that".
What's a better alternative to "only subsequently that"?
Consider using phrases like "only subsequently", "only after that", or "only later". The best choice depends on the specific context.
How can I use "only subsequently" correctly in a sentence?
For instance, instead of "He realized only subsequently that he had made a mistake", say "He "only subsequently" realized he had made a mistake".
Is there a difference in meaning between "only subsequently" and "only after that"?
While both indicate a sequence, ""only subsequently"" tends to be more formal. "Only after that" is more common in everyday language.
Editing plus AI, all in one place.
Stop switching between tools. Your AI writing partner for everything—polishing proposals, crafting emails, finding the right tone.
Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Source & Trust
87%
Authority and reliability
2.5/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested