soon later

USAGE SUMMARY

‘soon later’ is not correct or usable in written English.
This is because it is a redundancy. 'Soon' already implies a time in the near future so adding 'later' is unnecessary. Instead of ‘soon later’ you could simply say ‘soon’. For example: She will call you back soon.

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

18 human-written examples

Soon later Schmidt was up and awake.

Independent

Things were all over soon later.

The Guardian - Sport

We're going to find very soon, later today, a Provençal poet who literally advises war between father and son.

Yale University

Scarratt converted her second penalty of the match soon later and seven minutes before half-time the full-back Danielle Waterman crossed.

The Guardian - Sport

Daniel Sturridge apologised to fans for reacting angrily to a missed penalty to put Liverpool 5-0 up, with his disappointment also showing when he was substituted soon later.

Independent

The 19-year-old put the ball over the bar from five yards and his gesture when he left the field soon later – his shirt lifted over his face – revealed a teenager who knew the significance of that miss.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

42 human-written examples

The game was heating up and Simeone was sent off soon after, later taking up his place at the front of the stand.

The Guardian - Sport

He fled soon afterward and later appeared at a pro-government rally in Tripoli.

The New York Times - Magazine

He moved to England and we married six weeks later; soon after, we adopted three children.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

He scored soon after, and later slapped an opposite-field single to drive in two runs.

The New York Times - Sports

Prashant sent his I.D. to Twitter and received data about a week later, soon after we contacted Twitter's press department.

The New York Times - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "soon later" in formal writing. Opt for clearer alternatives such as "shortly after" or "immediately following" to maintain grammatical correctness.

Common error

The phrase "soon later" is redundant because "soon" already implies a time in the near future. Avoid redundancy by using "soon" or "later" independently, or choosing a more precise term.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "soon later" attempts to function as an adverbial phrase, aiming to indicate a time frame shortly after a specific event. However, as Ludwig AI states, it's considered grammatically incorrect due to its redundancy.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Science

27%

Wiki

23%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

3%

Academia

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "soon later" appears in various sources, Ludwig AI points out it is grammatically incorrect and marks a redundancy because the word "soon" already implies that the phrase is referring to the near future. Consequently, it is best practice to avoid this phrase in formal writing. Instead, opt for alternatives such as "shortly afterward" or "immediately after" to maintain clarity and grammatical correctness. Despite its common usage, striving for precision enhances the overall quality and credibility of your writing. The analysis highlights the importance of understanding grammatical rules and choosing words thoughtfully to effectively convey your intended meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

shortly afterward

Replaces "soon later" with a more standard and grammatically sound phrase indicating a brief time lapse.

immediately after

Emphasizes that the second event occurred directly after the first with no delay.

shortly after that

A more explicit construction, making the sequence clearer.

directly following

Implies a direct sequential relationship, which might be useful in formal contexts.

in short order

This emphasizes the swiftness of the sequence rather than precise timing.

in due course

Implies that something will happen at the appropriate time without undue delay.

not long after

A casual way to indicate that the second event happened quickly after the first.

presently

A more formal synonym for "soon", carrying a sense of expectation.

before long

This emphasizes that the second event will occur in the near future.

anon

An archaic term for 'soon', adds an old-fashioned tone.

FAQs

Is "soon later" grammatically correct?

No, the phrase "soon later" is generally considered grammatically incorrect because it's redundant. "Soon" already implies a short time in the future, making "later" unnecessary.

What are some alternatives to "soon later"?

Instead of "soon later", you can use phrases such as "shortly afterward", "immediately after", or "shortly after that" to convey a similar meaning.

How can I avoid redundancy in my writing?

To avoid redundancy, carefully examine your word choices and eliminate any words or phrases that repeat the same meaning. For example, instead of "repeat again", use "repeat"; instead of "new innovation", use "innovation"; and instead of "refer back", just use "refer".

When is it appropriate to use informal language?

Informal language is suitable for casual conversations with friends, personal emails, and creative writing. Avoid using informal language in formal reports, academic papers, or professional communications.