Afterward or Afterwards: Which Is Correct?

Both are correct. Afterward is more common in American English, and afterwards is more common in British English.

Afterward and afterwards are both correct adverbs that mean later or after that. American writers usually choose afterward, while British, Australian, and Irish writers usually choose afterwards. The meaning is the same. Pick the form that fits your readers, and use it consistently.

At a Glance: Afterward, Afterwards, After, and Afterword

Word	Part of Speech	Meaning	Where It Is Common
Afterward	Adverb	Later, or after that	United States and Canada
Afterwards	Adverb	Later, or after that	UK, Australia, and Ireland
After	Preposition or conjunction	Following a time or event, with an object	Everywhere
Afterword	Noun	A closing note at the end of a book	Everywhere

What Does Afterward Mean?

Afterward is an adverb, pronounced US /ˈæftərwərd/ and UK /ˈɑːftəwəd/. It means at a later time, or following something that has already been mentioned. It tells the reader when something happened in relation to another event.

Examples:

• We had lunch, and afterward we walked by the river.
• She finished the exam and felt relieved afterwards.
• The meeting ended, and nobody spoke about it afterward.
• Shortly afterwards, the rain began.

An easy test is to replace the word with later or after that. If the sentence still works, afterward or afterwards is the right word.

Afterward vs Afterwards by Region

This pattern repeats in several English word pairs.

• United States and Canada: afterward is more common.
• United Kingdom, Australia, and Ireland: afterwards is more common.

The same split appears in other words.

• toward and towards
• backward and backwards
• upward and upwards
• onward and onwards

Both forms are accepted by major dictionaries, and neither one is wrong anywhere. The final s in the longer forms is an old adverb ending that remained common in British English. Some forms, such as forward and forwards, have additional rules, but afterward and afterwards are fully interchangeable.

Which One Should You Use?

Use these quick guidelines.

• Writing for American readers: afterward.
• Writing for British, Australian, or Irish readers: afterwards.
• Writing for a global audience: pick one and stay consistent.
• Following a style guide, such as AP, Chicago, or a company guide: use the form the guide recommends. Many American guides prefer afterward.

If you are not sure, set your editor to the right language, such as English (US) or English (UK). It will highlight the form that does not match.

Afterward vs After

After and afterward have different jobs, and mixing them can cause errors.

• After is a preposition or conjunction. It must be followed by a noun or clause. For example: After lunch, we left.
• Afterward is an adverb. It stands alone and does not take an object. For example: We left afterward.

You cannot write We left after lunch afterward, because the meaning is repeated. Choose either after lunch or afterward. Also, you cannot write afterward lunch, because afterward does not take a noun.

Afterward vs Afterword

The word afterword, with an o, is a different word. It is a noun that means a short section at the end of a book, which adds a comment or note by the author or someone else.

• Afterward: an adverb that means later.
• Afterword: a noun that means a closing note in a book.
• Foreword: an opening note at the start of a book.
• Forward: a direction or movement ahead.

For example, the author added an afterword to the second edition, and then read the foreword aloud. The spelling difference is only one letter, but the meaning is entirely different.

Word History

Afterward comes from the Old English word æfterweard, which combined æfter, meaning after, and weard, meaning toward. The form with s appeared later in the Middle English period, using the same genitive style ending found in other English adverbs. That is why afterwards looks like a possessive but acts like an ordinary adverb.

Similar Words

You can use other words to express the same idea.

• Later
• After that
• Subsequently
• Thereafter
• Next
• Then
• Following that

Subsequently and thereafter are more formal. Later and then are more casual.

Example Sentences

• We watched the movie, and afterward we talked for hours.
• They ate dinner and went for a stroll afterwards.
• Afterward, nobody could explain what had happened.
• Shortly afterwards, the lights went out.
• Call me afterward and tell me how it went.

Common Mistakes

• Writing after ward or after wards as two words. It is one word.
• Using afterword when you mean later. An afterword is a part of a book.
• Using afterward with a noun, as in afterward the meeting. Use after the meeting instead.
• Mixing afterward and afterwards in the same text.
• Writing afterwood or afterwerd. These are spelling errors.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it afterward or afterwards? Both are correct. Afterward is more American, and afterwards is more British.

What does afterward mean? It means later or after that.

Is afterward a preposition? No. It is an adverb, so it does not take an object.

What is the difference between afterward and afterword? Afterward means later, while afterword is a note at the end of a book.

What is a formal word for afterward? Subsequently and thereafter are formal alternatives.

Can I start a sentence with afterward?
Yes. It works well as an opener, as in “Afterward, we walked home.” A comma after it is common, especially before a longer clause. In a very short sentence, you can leave it out.

Is afterward formal or informal?
It is neutral, so it fits both speech and writing. For a more formal tone, use subsequently or thereafter.

What is the difference between afterward and later?
They are close in meaning. Afterward points back to something already mentioned, as in “We ate, and afterward we left.” Later can stand alone, as in “See you later.”

What is the opposite of afterward?
Beforehand is the closest opposite. Earlier and previously also work, depending on the sentence.

How do you pronounce afterwards?
It sounds like afterward with a z sound at the end: US /ˈæftərwərdz/ and UK /ˈɑːftəwədz/.

Do toward and towards follow the same pattern?
Yes. American English usually prefers toward, and British English usually prefers towards. Backward and backwards, upward and upwards, and onward and onwards follow the same split.

Conclusion

Afterward and afterwards are two accepted forms of the same adverb. Afterward is the usual American choice, and afterwards is the usual choice in the United Kingdom and many other countries.

Do not confuse the adverb with the book term afterword, and do not use afterward in place of the preposition after.

Choose the form that suits your audience, and your writing will stay clear and consistent.

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