then immediately

USAGE SUMMARY

"then immediately" is a perfectly acceptable phrase in written English.
You can use it when you want to indicate that one event follows another quickly, without any delay. For example, "The dog barked, then immediately ran off."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

He then immediately hung up.

The Guardian

Everyone applauded, then immediately began packing up.

The New Yorker

But then, immediately, he is off again.

The Economist

Turn right, then immediately turn left.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

He then immediately reported the incident to Lieut.

Cornell University

It's rapid fire, he says, immediately this happened, then immediately this happened, and then immediately this happened.

Yale University

She sounds soft, then immediately fires up again.

The Guardian - Music

4. They hear bad news and then immediately dismiss it.

The New Yorker

The burgers were then immediately transferred to plastic bags.

The New York Times

Add the shrimp, then immediately add lime, Tabasco and salt.

The New York Times - Magazine

The Chinese government then immediately reacted.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "then immediately" in scientific writing, ensure the context clearly establishes the cause-and-effect relationship between the actions being described.

Common error

Avoid using "then immediately" when the sequence of events is already obvious from the context. Overuse can make writing sound repetitive and less impactful. Instead, consider using simpler phrasing or relying on the context to convey the timing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "then immediately" functions as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb, indicating the timing of an action in relation to a previous one. Ludwig AI confirms its common usage across varied contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

32%

News & Media

29%

Academia

12%

Less common in

Wiki

9%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "then immediately" is a grammatically sound and frequently used adverbial phrase that emphasizes the close temporal sequence between two actions. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is versatile, appearing across diverse contexts from scientific literature to news articles. While it effectively highlights immediacy, it's important to avoid redundancy by ensuring the context doesn't already imply a swift sequence. For those seeking alternatives, phrases like "subsequently without delay" or "directly after that" can offer nuanced variations in formality and emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

directly after that

Rephrases the sequence using "directly after that" to highlight the temporal connection.

afterward, promptly

Uses "afterward" and "promptly" as synonyms for "then" and "immediately", offering a slightly more concise alternative.

right away after that

Uses a more informal tone with "right away" to replace "immediately".

subsequently without delay

Replaces "then" with "subsequently" and "immediately" with "without delay" for a more formal tone.

and then, at once

Adds emphasis by including "and" before "then", and uses "at once" for immediacy.

next, without hesitation

Emphasizes the lack of pause between actions by using "without hesitation" in place of "immediately".

following that, instantaneously

Breaks the phrase into two parts, replacing "then" with "following that" and "immediately" with "instantaneously" for emphasis.

instantly following

Inverts the structure to place emphasis on the immediacy of the second action.

thereupon at once

Uses more archaic terms, "thereupon" and "at once", to convey the same meaning with a slightly different style.

at that moment, forthwith

Combines a specific time reference with the archaic term "forthwith" for a more dramatic effect.

FAQs

How can I use "then immediately" in a sentence?

You can use "then immediately" to show that something happens right after something else. For example, "He finished his work, then immediately went home".

What are some alternatives to "then immediately"?

Some alternatives include "subsequently without delay", "thereupon at once", or "directly after that".

Is it redundant to use both "then" and "immediately" together?

While using both words emphasizes the timing, it can sometimes be redundant if the context already implies immediacy. Consider if using just "then" or just "immediately" would suffice.

How does the formality of "then immediately" compare to its alternatives?

"Then immediately" is generally considered neutral. Alternatives like "thereupon at once" are more formal, while others like "right away after that" are more informal.