Afterward vs. Afterwards: What Writers Really Need to Know is easier once you understand that both words have nearly identical meanings. When choosing, writers may hesitate because both sound alike, but their definition and basic usage remain the same. Both describe something happening later, subsequently, or following another event. This guide covers grammar, word choice, context, spelling, pronunciation, and common usage differences. Neither form should be confused with afterword, which has a different meaning.
In spoken English, you may notice that people sometimes add -s to directional adverbs. These variations also occur in written English. Afterward and afterwards refer to time and events, not directions or physical locations, and both work as adverbs. American English often prefers afterward, while British English commonly uses afterwards. Both remain part of standard usage and standard English, so the -s suffix doesn’t make either form incorrect.
For formal writing, exams, and written communication, focus on correctness, clarity, and consistency. In everyday communication, either form can sound natural and accurate. Your regional preference, writing style, and audience can guide your choice. These practical tips help learners avoid common mistakes, improve writing skills, and strengthen communication skills. By the end, you can use both forms confidently without confusion.
Afterward vs. Afterwards: What’s the Difference?
The simplest answer is that afterward and afterwards are adverbs with essentially the same meaning.
Both describe something that happens later, usually following a particular event, action, or situation.
Consider these two sentences:
- We went to a restaurant afterward.
- We went to a restaurant afterwards.
The meaning doesn’t change. In both sentences, the restaurant visit happened after something already mentioned.
The same applies here:
- She apologized afterward.
- She apologized afterwards.
Again, there’s no meaningful difference in what happened.
The distinction becomes more interesting when you look at where each form is more common.
| Feature | Afterward | Afterwards |
| Part of speech | Adverb | Adverb |
| Basic meaning | At a later time | At a later time |
| Grammatically correct | Yes | Yes |
| American English | More common | Also used |
| British English | Used | More common |
| Meaning difference | Generally none | Generally none |
| Formal writing | Appropriate | Appropriate |
| Informal writing | Appropriate | Appropriate |
So, if someone tells you that “afterwards” is grammatically wrong, that advice is incorrect.
Likewise, “afterward” isn’t an incomplete version of “afterwards.”
Both forms have established places in English.
What Does “Afterward” Mean?
Afterward is an adverb meaning at a later time or after something has happened.
It usually points back to an event or action that has already been mentioned.
For example:
- We discussed the problem afterward.
- He felt better afterward.
- The students stayed behind afterward.
- She called me shortly afterward.
- They realized their mistake afterward.
In each case, afterward tells the reader when the second action occurred.
The word can refer to a moment immediately following an event or to a less precise later period.
For example:
The company issued a statement shortly afterward.
Here, shortly afterward suggests that the statement came relatively soon after the event.
Compare that with:
The company changed its strategy afterward.
This doesn’t tell you exactly how much time passed. It simply establishes that the strategy change happened after the earlier event.
That flexibility makes afterward useful in everyday conversation as well as formal writing.
What Does “Afterwards” Mean?
Afterwards carries essentially the same meaning as afterward.
It means at a later time, after something else has happened, or subsequently.
For example:
- We talked about it afterwards.
- They went home afterwards.
- She regretted the decision afterwards.
- The team celebrated afterwards.
- He explained everything afterwards.
Nothing about the final -s changes the basic meaning.
The word isn’t plural. The -s forms part of the adverb.
This is important because English contains several similar adverbs:
- afterward / afterwards
- toward / towards
- forward / forwards
- backward / backwards
- upward / upwards
- downward / downwards
English doesn’t always use the same pattern consistently across regions. That’s one reason these paired forms can create confusion.
Is “Afterward” Grammatically Correct?
Yes. Afterward is completely standard English.
It functions as an adverb and can modify an action by showing that it happened after something else.
For example:
The meeting ended, and everyone left afterward.
The word afterward tells us when everyone left.
You can also place it at the beginning of a sentence:
Afterward, the researchers reviewed their findings.
Or use it with another adverb:
The announcement came shortly afterward.
There’s nothing informal or grammatically incomplete about any of these constructions.
In fact, afterward is particularly common in American English, which means American readers will encounter it frequently in newspapers, books, academic writing, websites, and everyday communication.
Is “Afterwards” Grammatically Correct?
Yes. Afterwards is also standard English.
For example:
Afterwards, the researchers reviewed their findings.
This sentence is grammatically sound.
So is:
The announcement came shortly afterwards.
The word works in casual conversation and formal prose.
British writers frequently use afterwards in contexts where American writers might naturally choose afterward.
That difference doesn’t make one version superior. It reflects the way English varies between regions.
Afterward vs. Afterwards: Regional Usage Matters
The biggest practical distinction between these words is where English is being used.
American and British English often differ in small vocabulary, spelling, and usage choices. The contrast between afterward and afterwards is one of those differences.
Afterward in American English
Afterward is generally the more common choice in American English.
You’ll often see it in:
- American newspapers
- Academic papers
- Business writing
- Books and magazines
- Websites
- Professional correspondence
- Everyday conversation
For an American audience, these sentences sound completely natural:
We’ll discuss the details afterward.
She left shortly afterward.
The team reviewed the results afterward.
If you’re writing for readers in the United States and don’t have a specific style guide telling you otherwise, afterward is a safe default.
Afterwards in British English
British English commonly favors afterwards.
For example:
We’ll discuss the details afterwards.
She left shortly afterwards.
The team reviewed the results afterwards.
These sentences sound perfectly natural to British readers.
Importantly, British English doesn’t prohibit afterward. It simply tends to favor afterwards more often.
That distinction is worth remembering because regional preference isn’t the same thing as a grammar rule.
Is Afterwards Used in American English?
Yes.
American English generally prefers afterward, but afterwards is not an ungrammatical word in American English.
You may encounter it in American books, journalism, conversation, and other forms of writing.
However, if you’re deliberately following American English conventions, using afterward consistently will usually sound more natural.
Think of it as a matter of editorial fit rather than correctness.
It’s similar to choosing between other regional variants. The goal isn’t to identify a forbidden word. The goal is to choose the form that matches your audience.
Is Afterward Used in British English?
Yes.
British writers and speakers do use afterward. However, afterwards is generally more characteristic of British usage.
So neither of these rules is absolute:
- “Americans never say afterwards.” False.
- “Britons never say afterward.” False.
Language doesn’t operate like a traffic light with only two settings.
Regional preferences describe patterns. They don’t create rigid borders.
Why Does “Afterwards” Have an “-s”?
The final -s can make afterwards look as though it should have a different grammatical function. It doesn’t.
In afterwards, the -s is simply part of the established adverbial form.
You can see a similar pattern in words such as:
- towards
- forwards
- backwards
- upwards
- downwards
The -s isn’t a plural ending.
For example:
She walked backwards.
Nobody interprets backwards as a plural noun. The ending belongs to the adverb.
The same principle applies to afterwards.
Afterward vs. Afterwards in Formal Writing
One common misconception is that afterwards sounds more formal because it contains an extra syllable.
That’s not how English formality works.
Neither word is inherently more formal.
You can use either form in serious, polished writing.
For example:
The committee reviewed the proposal afterward.
Or:
The committee reviewed the proposal afterwards.
Both sentences are grammatically appropriate.
The better choice depends on your English variety, audience, and style requirements.
If an American publication follows American English, afterward will usually fit better.
If a British publication follows British English, afterwards may be the preferred choice.
What matters most in formal writing?
Focus on these priorities:
- Correct grammar
- Clear meaning
- Consistent regional English
- Compliance with the required style guide
- Natural wording
There’s no need to replace afterward with afterwards simply because you think the longer version sounds more sophisticated.
Clear writing rarely needs that kind of costume jewelry.
Afterward vs. Afterwards in Academic Writing
Academic writers sometimes overthink small usage choices. With afterward vs. afterwards, the solution is straightforward.
Choose the form that matches the English variety required by your institution, journal, or publication.
For example, an American academic paper might say:
The participants completed the survey and were interviewed afterward.
A British academic paper might say:
The participants completed the survey and were interviewed afterwards.
Both sentences clearly communicate the same sequence.
Academic writing should prioritize consistency
If you’re writing a long research paper, switching randomly between afterward and afterwards can make the prose look less carefully edited.
The individual words aren’t wrong. The inconsistency is simply unnecessary.
Before submitting academic work, check:
- Your university’s language requirements.
- Your journal’s author guidelines.
- The required style guide.
- The English variety used throughout the paper.
A publication may have its own preference even when both forms are accepted in general English.
Afterward vs. Afterwards in Business Writing
Business writing follows the same basic principle.
Both forms work in:
- Emails
- Reports
- Proposals
- Internal documentation
- Meeting summaries
- Presentations
- Client communications
For an American workplace, this sounds natural:
Let’s review the numbers afterward.
For a British workplace, this may feel more conventional:
Let’s review the numbers afterwards.
Neither sentence is more professional.
The professional choice comes from clarity and consistency, not from adding an -s.
If your company serves customers across several English-speaking countries, pick a consistent house style. That approach prevents small regional differences from becoming distracting throughout your content.
Where Can You Put Afterward and Afterwards?
Both adverbs can appear in several positions.
At the End of a Sentence
This is probably the most common placement.
We talked afterward.
We talked afterwards.
The construction is simple and natural.
At the Beginning of a Sentence
You can also put either word at the beginning.
Afterward, they returned to the office.
Afterwards, they returned to the office.
A comma after the introductory adverb is common because it creates a natural pause.
With “Shortly”
The phrase shortly afterward is especially common in American English.
The company announced the merger and issued another statement shortly afterward.
British English commonly uses:
The company announced the merger and issued another statement shortly afterwards.
The phrase means that the second event happened soon after the first.
In Longer Sentences
Both forms can sit naturally within more complex sentences.
Although the meeting lasted three hours, the participants continued discussing the proposal afterward.
Or:
Although the meeting lasted three hours, the participants continued discussing the proposal afterwards.
The grammar remains unchanged.
Afterward vs. After: Don’t Confuse Them
Afterward and after overlap in meaning, but they don’t always perform the same grammatical job.
Consider:
We went home afterward.
Here, afterward works as an adverb. It stands alone and refers back to something that happened earlier.
Now compare:
We went home after the meeting.
Here, after introduces the noun phrase the meeting.
You can also say:
We went home after the meeting ended.
In that sentence, after introduces a clause.
This distinction matters because you can’t simply replace after with afterward in every sentence.
Compare the structures
| Word | Example | Function |
| Afterward | We left afterward. | Adverb |
| After | We left after lunch. | Preposition |
| After | We left after lunch ended. | Conjunction |
| Afterwards | We left afterwards. | Adverb |
Understanding this difference helps prevent awkward substitutions.
Afterward vs. Later: Are They the Same?
Afterward and later sometimes overlap, but they’re not perfect substitutes in every context.
Afterward usually connects a later action directly to an earlier event.
For example:
We had dinner afterward.
The word strongly suggests that dinner happened after the event already being discussed.
Later is broader.
I’ll call you later.
That sentence identifies a future time without necessarily connecting it to a specific preceding event.
Compare:
The meeting ended. We talked afterward.
The sequence is explicit.
Now:
The meeting ended. We talked later.
This could mean the conversation happened much later. The relationship feels less immediate.
So while dictionaries may list later as a related meaning, the words aren’t always interchangeable without changing the shade of meaning.
Afterward vs. Subsequently
Subsequently is another word that can overlap with afterward.
However, the tone differs.
Afterward is straightforward and conversational:
The company changed its policy afterward.
Subsequently sounds more formal:
The company subsequently changed its policy.
The second sentence may suit legal, academic, or technical writing. Yet there’s no reason to choose subsequently simply to make a sentence sound impressive.
In many situations, afterward is clearer.
Good writing doesn’t win points for sounding like a dictionary wearing a necktie.
Use the word that communicates the idea most efficiently.
Common Mistakes With Afterward and Afterwards
Mistake: Saying Afterwards Is Wrong
This is the biggest misconception.
Afterwards is a standard English word. British English uses it extensively, and American English also recognizes it.
Mistake: Saying Afterward Is Informal
That’s also incorrect.
Afterward is standard English, including in formal American writing.
Mistake: Assuming the “-s” Makes Afterwards Plural
It doesn’t.
The ending is part of the adverb.
Mistake: Thinking One Form Has a Different Definition
In ordinary usage, afterward and afterwards have essentially the same meaning.
The regional preference matters more than semantics.
Mistake: Mixing Forms Without a Style Reason
Using both isn’t necessarily grammatically wrong. However, unnecessary variation can make an article or document feel less consistent.
If you’ve chosen American English, afterward will usually provide a cleaner default.
Mistake: Confusing Afterward With After
These words have different grammatical functions in many sentences.
We talked afterward.
isn’t structured like:
We talked after dinner.
Understanding the role each word plays will help you choose correctly.
Afterward vs. Afterwards in Real-World Writing
The easiest way to understand the distinction is to see both forms in practical contexts.
In an Email
American English:
I’ll send the revised document afterward.
British English:
I’ll send the revised document afterwards.
Both are professional.
In an Academic Paper
American English:
The researchers analyzed the responses afterward.
British English:
The researchers analyzed the responses afterwards.
Again, the meaning remains unchanged.
In Journalism
The witness spoke to reporters shortly afterward.
This concise construction works particularly well when describing a sequence of events.
In Fiction
She said nothing afterward.
Or:
She said nothing afterwards.
The choice depends primarily on the author’s regional English and intended audience.
In Everyday Conversation
Want to grab coffee afterward?
This sounds entirely natural in American English.
A British speaker might naturally say:
Want to grab coffee afterwards?
Neither version needs an explanation.
Read More: Linchpin vs. Lynchpin: Correct Spelling, Meaning and Differences
A Practical Decision Guide for Afterward vs. Afterwards
When you’re unsure which form to choose, don’t stare at the word until it starts looking strange.
Ask three simple questions.
Who is reading the content?
If you’re writing primarily for American readers, afterward is generally the better default.
If you’re writing primarily for British readers, afterwards is generally the more conventional choice.
What variety of English are you using?
Look at the rest of your writing.
If you’ve chosen American spellings such as color, organize, and center, then afterward fits that overall convention naturally.
If you’re using British forms such as colour, organise, and centre, then afterwards may fit your style better.
This isn’t an absolute grammar rule. It’s a useful consistency principle.
Does a style guide specify a preference?
For professional, academic, or published writing, check the relevant guidelines.
Your publication or institution may have a house style that overrides your personal preference.
Afterward vs. Afterwards: Quick Comparison
| Question | Answer |
| Are both words correct? | Yes |
| Do they normally mean the same thing? | Yes |
| Is afterward an adverb? | Yes |
| Is afterwards an adverb? | Yes |
| Is afterward common in American English? | Yes |
| Is afterwards common in British English? | Yes |
| Is afterwards wrong in American English? | No |
| Is afterward wrong in British English? | No |
| Is either one inherently more formal? | No |
| Should writers stay consistent? | Yes |
Afterward vs. Afterwards: A Simple Rule to Remember
Here’s the easiest rule:
American English → afterward
British English → afterwards
Both varieties → choose the form that matches your established style
That’s enough for most writing situations.
You don’t need to memorize a complicated grammar formula because there isn’t a meaningful grammatical distinction between the two forms.
The important thing is recognizing the regional pattern.
FAQs:
Is “afterward” or “afterwards” correct?
Both afterward and afterwards are correct. They have the same meaning and usually differ only in regional usage and writing style.
What is the difference between afterward and afterwards?
There’s no major difference in definition or usage. Afterward is more common in American English, while afterwards is more common in British English.
Is afterward more formal than afterwards?
Not necessarily. Both work in formal writing and informal language. Your regional preference, audience, and context can guide your choice.
Can I use afterwards in American English?
Yes. Afterwards is understood and grammatically correct in American English, although afterward is generally more common in American writing.
Is “afterword” the same as afterward?
No. Afterword is a noun referring to a section at the end of a book. Afterward and afterwards are adverbs that refer to something happening later.
Conclusion:
Afterward and afterwards share the same basic meaning, so you don’t need to worry about choosing an incorrect form. The main distinction comes from regional usage, with afterward favored in American English and afterwards common in British English.
For clear writing, focus on consistency, context, and your audience. Once you understand this simple usage difference, you can use either form confidently in everyday communication, exams, and formal writing.
