soon afterward

USAGE SUMMARY

"soon afterward" is an adverbial phrase that is perfectly correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that one event happened shortly after another event. For example: "I received an unexpected bonus from my employer, and soon afterward, I decided to go on a well-deserved vacation."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

She died soon afterward.

The New Yorker

Soon afterward, she disappeared.

The New Yorker

He died soon afterward.

The New York Times

Soon afterward, transmissions stopped.

The New Yorker

Asme died soon afterward.

The New Yorker

He opened International soon afterward.

The New York Times

He was arrested soon afterward.

The New York Times

The evening ended soon afterward.

The New Yorker

Soon afterward, the tweets flowed.

The New York Times

She moved out soon afterward.

The New Yorker

Ricimer, however, died soon afterward.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "soon afterward" to clearly indicate that an event occurred within a relatively short time frame after another, providing a sense of chronological order to your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "soon afterward" if there's a significant delay between the events you're describing. Choose a more appropriate phrase to reflect the actual time elapsed.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "soon afterward" is to act as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb, clause, or sentence. It indicates the timing of an action or event in relation to a preceding action or event. Ludwig contains many examples of this usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Encyclopedias

17%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Wiki

7%

Academia

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "soon afterward" is a versatile adverbial phrase used to denote a short time interval between two events. According to Ludwig, it's grammatically sound and commonly found in various contexts. While alternatives like "shortly thereafter" exist, "soon afterward" strikes a balance between formality and clarity, making it suitable for news, encyclopedic entries, and general writing. As Ludwig AI states, the phrase is perfectly correct and usable in written English and is mostly used in News & Media, Encyclopedias, and Science. Remember to use it when indicating a relatively immediate sequence to enhance the flow and clarity of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

shortly thereafter

Replaces "soon" with "shortly" and "afterward" with "thereafter", maintaining a formal tone.

not long after

Emphasizes the brief time interval between events.

shortly after that

Uses "shortly" to indicate a brief period, with "after that" emphasizing the sequence.

immediately following that

Emphasizes the lack of delay between events.

directly after that

Highlights the immediate succession of events.

in short order

Indicates that something happened quickly after a previous event.

presently

More formal and concise, suggesting something will happen without significant delay.

before long

Indicates that an event occurred in the near future following another.

in due course

Suggests an expected sequence of events within a reasonable time frame.

in a bit

Informal expression indicating a short time passing before something happens.

FAQs

How can I use "soon afterward" in a sentence?

You can use "soon afterward" to show that one event happened shortly after another. For example: "The meeting ended, and "soon afterward", we went to lunch."

What are some alternatives to "soon afterward"?

Alternatives include "shortly thereafter", "immediately after", or "shortly after that", depending on the desired level of formality.

Is there a difference between "soon afterward" and "immediately afterward"?

"Immediately afterward" suggests a shorter time frame than "soon afterward". "Soon afterward" implies a relatively short time, while "immediately afterward" suggests virtually no delay.

Can "soon afterward" be used in formal writing?

Yes, "soon afterward" is appropriate for formal writing. While not as formal as some alternatives like "subsequently", it's still suitable for professional and academic contexts.