Afterwards or Afterward: Which Is Correct?

Afterwards or Afterward: Quick Answer

Both afterwards and afterward are correct. They have essentially the same meaning: at a later time or after something has Happened.

The main difference is regional usage. Afterward is especially common in American English, while afterwards is especially common in British English.

• American English: We went home afterward.
• British English: We went home afterwards.

Neither spelling is inherently wrong. The best choice usually depends on the variety of English you are using.

What Does Afterward Mean?

Afterward is an adverb that means later or after something that has already been mentioned.

It is normally used to connect one event with something that happens later.

For example:

We finished the meeting and went for lunch afterward.

Here, afterward refers to the time following the meeting.

More examples:

• She apologized afterward.
• I felt much better afterward.
• They discussed the problem afterward.
• We can talk about it afterward.

In American English, afterward is a very common spelling.

What Does Afterwards Mean?

Afterwards is also an adverb meaning later or after that.

It does not have a different basic meaning from afterward. The additional s does not make it plural.

For example:

We finished dinner and watched a movie afterwards.

The word afterwards tells us that watching the movie happened after dinner.

More examples include:

• She called me afterwards.
• We went shopping afterwards.
• He regretted his decision afterwards.
• They talked about the trip afterwards.

Afterwards is particularly common in British English.

Afterwards vs Afterward: What Is the Difference?

The main difference between afterwards and afterward is generally regional preference, not meaning.

Word	Meaning	Common Usage	Part of Speech
afterward	later; after that	American English	Adverb
afterwards	later; after that	British English	Adverb

Compare these sentences:

We went home afterward.

We went home afterwards.

Both sentences mean that the speakers went home later, after an earlier event.

So, if you are asking “Which one is correct?”, the answer is that both are standard English forms.

Afterward vs. Afterwards in American and British English

English has several spelling and vocabulary differences between regional varieties, and afterward/afterwards is one example.

In American English, afterward is generally preferred:

We talked about the issue afterward.

In British English, afterwards is especially common:

We talked about the issue afterwards.

This does not mean that American speakers never use afterwards or that British speakers never use afterward. Both forms can be understood across English-speaking regions.

If you are writing for a particular audience, matching its usual variety of English can make your writing sound more natural.

How to Use Afterward and Afterwards in a Sentence

Both words can appear in different positions, depending on the sentence.

At the beginning of a sentence

Afterward, we went back to the hotel.

Afterwards, she called her brother.

When used at the beginning, a comma is commonly placed after the introductory word.

At the end of a sentence

We went back to the hotel afterward.

She called her brother afterwards.

With “soon”

We met again soon afterward.

With “shortly”

He left shortly afterwards.

The important point is that afterward and afterwards normally refer back to an event, action, or situation that has already been mentioned or is clear from the context.

After vs Afterward vs Afterwards

Although these words are related, they do not always work in the same grammatical position.

After can be used before a noun or noun phrase:

We left after dinner.

It can also introduce a clause:

We left after the meeting ended.

By contrast, afterward and afterwards function as adverbs:

We had dinner and left afterward.

We had dinner and left afterwards.

Compare:

Word	Example
after	We left after dinner.
afterward	We had dinner and left afterward.
afterwards	We had dinner and left afterwards.

A common mistake is trying to use afterward directly before a noun.

Incorrect:

We left the meeting afterward.

Correct:

We left after the meeting.

Or:

The meeting ended, and we left afterward.

Afterward vs Later: Are They the Same?

Afterward and later can sometimes be replaced by one another, but they are not always used in the same way.

Later simply refers to a subsequent time:

I will call you later.

Afterward normally connects a later event to something that has already happened:

I will finish my work and call you afterward.

Here, afterward clearly refers to the time following the completion of the work.

Another example:

She went to the doctor and felt better afterward.

The word afterward directly connects feeling better with the earlier visit to the doctor.

So while both words can indicate a later time, afterward more clearly emphasizes what happened after a particular event.

Afterward vs Afterword: What Is the Difference?

Afterward and afterword look similar, but they have completely different meanings.

Afterward means later or after that.

We talked about the experience afterward.

Afterword is a noun referring to a section at the end of a book, usually written by the author or another contributor.

The author included an afterword in the new edition.

A simple way to remember the difference is:

• Afterward = a time after something
• Afterword = words at the end of a book

The spelling matters because changing -ward to -word changes the meaning completely.

Common Mistakes With Afterwards and Afterward

Learners sometimes make several mistakes with these words.

Mistake 1: Thinking “afterwards” is incorrect

Some writers assume the s makes the word wrong. It does not.

We went home afterwards.

This is a standard English sentence.

Mistake 2: Thinking the two forms have different meanings

In normal usage, afterward and afterwards have essentially the same meaning.

Mistake 3: Treating “afterwards” as a plural word

The s does not make afterwards plural. It is an adverb.

Mistake 4: Confusing “afterward” with “afterword”

These words have different meanings. Afterward relates to time, while an afterword is a section at the end of a book.

Mistake 5: Using “afterward” before a noun

Instead of:

We left the meeting afterward.

Write:

We left after the meeting.

Or:

The meeting ended, and we left afterward.

Can Afterward and Afterwards Start a Sentence?

Yes. Both afterward and afterwards can be used at the beginning of a sentence.

For example:

Afterward, we went back to the office.

Afterwards, they discussed what had Happened.

When these words introduce a sentence, a comma is commonly used to separate the introductory adverb from the main clause.

They can also appear at the end:

We went back to the office afterward.

They discussed what had happened afterwards.

The position may change, but the basic meaning remains the same.

Can You Use Afterward and Afterwards in Formal Writing?

Yes. Both afterward and afterwards can be used in standard formal writing.

They can appear in:

• Academic writing
• Business writing
• Professional emails
• Reports
• Essays
• General correspondence

For example:

The results were reviewed afterward.

Or:

The results were reviewed afterwards.

The important consideration is consistency with your preferred variety of English. If the rest of your writing follows American English conventions, afterward may fit more naturally. If you are following British English conventions, afterwards may be the more familiar choice.

Related To Another Article: https://grammixo.com/hoping-or-hopping/

Afterward and Afterwards: Example Sentences

Here are practical examples showing how both forms work naturally.

Examples with “afterward”

1. We went home afterward.
2. She called her parents afterward.
3. I felt tired afterward.
4. They discussed the results afterward.
5. He apologized afterward.
6. We had coffee afterward.
7. She realized her mistake afterward.
8. The students asked questions afterward.
9. He became more confident afterward.
10. We talked about the movie afterward.

Examples with “afterwards”

1. We went home afterwards.
2. She called her parents afterwards.
3. I felt tired afterwards.
4. They discussed the results afterwards.
5. He apologized afterwards.
6. We had coffee afterwards.
7. She realized her mistake afterwards.
8. The students asked questions afterwards.
9. He became more confident afterwards.
10. We talked about the movie afterwards.

These examples show that changing afterward to afterwards does not normally change the meaning of the sentence.

Which One Should You Use?

If you are writing in American English, afterward is generally the preferred form.

If you are writing in British English, afterwards is generally the preferred form.

If you are writing for an international audience, either form can be understood. The most useful approach is to choose the form that matches the variety of English used throughout your content and remain consistent.

For example:

American English: We spoke afterward.

British English: We spoke afterwards.

There is no need to treat one spelling as universally correct and the other as incorrect.

People Also Ask

Conclusion:

 Both afterward and afterwards are correct spellings and have the same meaning: at a later time or after something has happened. Afterward is more common in American English, while afterwards is more common in British English. You can use either form depending on your preferred style or variety of English.