Afterward or Afterwards explains why both words share the same meaning, while regional usage and writing style can influence your word choice. For many people, afterward and afterwards seem confusing because their similar spellings, pronunciations, and nearly identical meanings make the difference difficult to notice.
Both describe something happening later, usually following an event or after a point already mentioned. In English grammar, each word is an adverb that can show a subsequent action or temporal reference. Their word forms follow a familiar pattern, with the -ward ending having a parallel -wards form, as seen in forward and forwards.
In modern usage, these forms are often interchangeable in many contexts, although subtle usage differences may appear because of regional usage and writing style. From my experience with writing and language learning, I’ve found that writers often hesitate when choosing between them.
Quick Answer
Afterward and afterwards are both grammatically correct. They have the same meaning and normally function as adverbs that refer to a later time.
In American English, afterward is generally more common:
We went out for dinner afterward.
In British English, afterwards is widely preferred:
We went out for dinner afterwards.
The extra s doesn’t create a new meaning. It mainly reflects a difference in regional usage and spelling convention.
| Word | Correct? | Meaning | Common preference |
| Afterward | Yes | At a later time; after something | American English |
| Afterwards | Yes | At a later time; after something | British English |
If you’re writing for an American audience, afterward is usually the natural choice. If you’re following British English conventions, afterwards fits that style well.
Comparison Overview
Both afterward and afterwards describe an action or event that occurs later. They don’t differ in tense, grammatical function, or basic definition. The distinction is mostly regional.
| Feature | Afterward | Afterwards |
| Part of speech | Adverb | Adverb |
| Basic meaning | At a later time | At a later time |
| Refers to | A later event or action | A later event or action |
| American English | Very common | Also understood |
| British English | Used | Very common |
| Meaning changes? | No | No |
| Pronunciation changes? | Generally no | Generally no |
| Suitable for formal writing? | Yes | Yes |
| Suitable for casual writing? | Yes | Yes |
Think of the two words as regional siblings. They perform essentially the same job, but different English-speaking communities tend to reach for one more often.
For example, these sentences communicate the same idea:
- I called her afterward.
- I called her afterwards.
Nothing about the event changes. The speaker called her at a later time in both sentences.
The choice becomes more important when you’re trying to maintain a consistent form of English. If the rest of your writing follows American conventions, afterward will usually blend in more naturally.
Main Differences Between Afterward or Afterwards
The biggest difference between afterward or afterwards isn’t meaning. Instead, it involves regional preference, spelling convention, and the English variety you’re using.
Meaning of Afterward vs. Afterwards
Afterward means “at a later time” or “after something has happened.” It usually points back to an event that has already been mentioned or is clear from context.
For example:
We finished the meeting and went for coffee afterward.
Here, afterward refers to the time following the meeting.
Afterwards performs the same function:
We finished the meeting and went for coffee afterwards.
The meaning remains unchanged. In both sentences, the coffee came after the meeting.
You can think of these words as verbal signposts. They tell your reader, “This next event happened later.”
Consider another example:
She apologized afterward.
The word afterward doesn’t tell us exactly how much time passed. It could have happened a few seconds later, several hours later, or even the following day. The surrounding context determines the timing.
The same applies to afterwards.
She apologized afterwards.
Again, the word simply places the apology after an earlier event.
American English vs. British English
Regional English conventions explain much of the confusion surrounding afterward and afterwards.
American English tends to favor the shorter form afterward. You’ll frequently see it in American newspapers, books, business writing, academic work, and everyday communication.
British English commonly favors afterwards. The form also appears naturally in other varieties of English influenced by British usage.
That doesn’t mean Americans never write afterwards. They certainly do. Likewise, British writers can use afterward. Regional preference isn’t an absolute grammar law.
Instead, frequency and style distinguish the forms.
A useful way to approach the choice is to ask:
What variety of English am I writing?
If you’re writing for readers in the United States, afterward usually fits American style more naturally.
If you’re writing for a British audience, afterwards is often the more familiar choice.
Spelling Difference: Afterward vs. Afterwards
The spelling difference is remarkably small. Afterwards simply adds an s to afterward.
That final letter doesn’t change the word’s core meaning.
Compare:
- afterward
- afterwards
Both describe something that occurs later.
English contains several adverbs that show similar regional variation. Words ending in -ward can sometimes appear with an additional -s, depending on the English variety or individual usage.
For example, you may encounter forms such as toward and towards. Both are established forms, although their frequency differs across English varieties.
The same general pattern helps explain why afterward and afterwards coexist.
Grammar and Sentence Structure
Both forms function primarily as adverbs.
An adverb can modify a verb, adjective, another adverb, or an entire clause. In the case of afterward and afterwards, the words commonly provide information about when an action happens.
Consider:
We talked afterward.
The word tells you when the talking happened.
They can also appear after a longer sequence:
After the concert ended, we went to a nearby restaurant afterward.
However, this particular sentence is somewhat repetitive because after already establishes the time relationship. A cleaner version would be:
After the concert ended, we went to a nearby restaurant.
Or:
The concert ended, and we went to a nearby restaurant afterward.
Good writing isn’t just about whether a word is technically correct. It also depends on avoiding unnecessary repetition.
Formal vs. Informal Usage
Neither afterward nor afterwards is inherently informal.
You can use either form in casual conversation:
I’ll call you afterward.
You can also use the appropriate regional form in formal writing:
The committee reviewed the proposal and issued its recommendation afterward.
British English can use the corresponding afterwards:
The committee reviewed the proposal and issued its recommendation afterwards.
The important point is that regional preference doesn’t equal formality.
Some writers mistakenly assume that afterwards sounds more sophisticated because it contains an extra letter. That’s not how English works. More letters don’t automatically make a word more formal.
Likewise, afterward isn’t a casual abbreviation. It’s a complete, standard word.
When to Use Afterward
Afterward works especially well when you’re writing in American English. It is concise, familiar, and completely standard.
Afterward in American English
American writers commonly use afterward to describe what happens following an earlier event.
Examples include:
We had dinner afterward.
She spoke with her manager afterward.
The students discussed the experiment afterward.
I realized my mistake afterward.
In each sentence, afterward connects the current action with an earlier event.
American English doesn’t require you to avoid afterwards, but afterward is generally the more natural default when you’re deliberately following American usage.
Afterward at the End of a Sentence
Sentence-final placement is one of the most common uses.
For example:
We went home afterward.
He apologized afterward.
They discussed the issue afterward.
This position works because the reader already understands the main action. The adverb then adds a simple time reference.
It’s especially useful when the earlier event appears in the same sentence:
We finished the project and celebrated afterward.
The sequence is immediately clear: first the project ended, then the celebration happened.
Afterward in the Middle of a Sentence
You can also place afterward earlier in a sentence when the structure calls for it.
For example:
We afterward discovered that the documents were incomplete.
This sentence is grammatically possible, but it sounds somewhat formal or less natural in modern everyday American English.
A more conversational version would be:
We discovered afterward that the documents were incomplete.
Or:
We later discovered that the documents were incomplete.
This illustrates an important writing principle: grammatically possible doesn’t always mean stylistically preferable.
In most everyday writing, placing afterward near the action it describes creates a smoother rhythm.
When to Use Afterwards
Afterwards is especially common in British English. If you’re following British spelling and usage conventions, there’s no reason to avoid it.
Afterwards in British English
British writers regularly use afterwards in everyday and formal contexts.
For example:
We went for lunch afterwards.
She spoke to the teacher afterwards.
They discussed the results afterwards.
The word sounds entirely natural in these contexts.
For a British audience, replacing every instance of afterwards with afterward isn’t necessary. The longer form is a standard part of British usage.
Afterwards at the End of a Sentence
Sentence-final afterwards is extremely common:
We watched a movie afterwards.
He called me afterwards.
They went home afterwards.
The word establishes a clear timeline without requiring a longer phrase such as “at a later time.”
This makes it useful in storytelling as well. Instead of repeating a complete time expression, you can use one compact adverb.
Afterwards in the Middle of a Sentence
Afterwards can also appear elsewhere in a sentence.
For example:
Afterwards, we returned to the hotel.
Here, afterwards appears at the beginning of the sentence and refers to an event described previously.
This construction is particularly useful when you want to emphasize the sequence of events.
Compare:
We finished dinner. Afterwards, we went for a walk.
The structure makes the chronology obvious. First came dinner. The walk followed.
Afterward or Afterwards in Real-Life Examples
The difference becomes easier to understand when you see both forms in practical situations.
Everyday Conversations
People use these adverbs when discussing ordinary sequences of events.
American English:
I’ll meet you afterward.
Let’s grab coffee afterward.
We can talk about it afterward.
British English:
I’ll meet you afterwards.
Let’s grab coffee afterwards.
We can talk about it afterwards.
The message stays exactly the same.
Whether you’re discussing school, work, dinner, travel, or weekend plans, both forms express the same basic time relationship.
Academic and Professional Writing
Both words can appear in professional and academic contexts.
For example:
The researchers analyzed the responses afterward.
Or:
The researchers analyzed the responses afterwards.
A formal document doesn’t automatically require afterward, and a casual message doesn’t automatically require afterwards.
Instead, choose according to the English variety and maintain consistency.
If an American company uses American English throughout its documentation, afterward may be the preferred house style. A British publication may favor afterwards.
Storytelling and Narrative Writing
Narrative writing often benefits from precise time markers.
Imagine a story:
Maya finished the interview. She sat in her car afterward and replayed every question in her mind.
The word creates a clean bridge between two moments.
You could use afterwards instead:
Maya finished the interview. She sat in her car afterwards and replayed every question in her mind.
Again, the meaning doesn’t change.
For longer narratives, these small transition words can prevent chronological confusion. They help readers understand what happened first and what followed.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Although afterward and afterwards are both correct, writers can still misuse them.
Assuming One Spelling Is Incorrect
One of the most common mistakes is believing that only one version belongs in standard English.
That’s incorrect.
Afterward is correct. Afterwards is also correct.
The choice generally reflects English variety rather than a simple right-versus-wrong rule.
Mixing Regional Conventions
Mixing American and British conventions isn’t automatically a grammar error. However, inconsistent style can make a document feel less polished.
For example, an American article might consistently use American spellings such as color, center, and organize. Using afterward would fit that broader pattern.
A British article might use colour, centre, and organise while naturally choosing afterwards.
The goal is consistency.
Read More: Tying or Tieing: Which Spelling Is Correct?
FAQs:
1. Is afterward or afterwards correct?
Both afterward and afterwards are correct. They have the same basic meaning and are both used as adverbs to describe something that happens later. The main difference is regional preference. Afterward is more common in American English, while afterwards is widely used in British English.
2. Is afterward more formal than afterwards?
Neither word is inherently more formal. Your choice usually depends on regional usage and writing style. Afterward may feel more familiar to American readers, while afterwards is natural for many British readers. Both can appear in formal writing, academic work, and everyday communication.
3. What is the difference between afterward and afterword?
Afterward and afterwards refer to a time later than an event. Afterword, however, is a noun. It refers to a section at the end of a book that provides additional comments, explanations, or insights about the text. Keeping the final letters in mind can help you avoid this common spelling mistake.
4. Can I use afterward and afterwards interchangeably?
Yes, in most sentences, afterward and afterwards can be used interchangeably without changing the meaning. For example, “We went home afterward” and “We went home afterwards” both describe going home later. Your audience and preferred variety of English can guide the choice.
5. Which should I use in American English?
Afterward is generally the more common choice in American English. However, afterwards is not automatically incorrect. If you’re writing for an American audience, choosing afterward can match common usage, while afterwards remains understandable and grammatically valid.
Conclusion:
The choice between afterward and afterwards is simpler than it first appears. Both words describe something happening later and usually have the same meaning. The main difference comes from regional preference, with afterward commonly associated with American English and afterwards widely used in British English.
The important point is not to treat one form as universally correct and the other as wrong. Consider your audience, maintain consistency in your writing, and remember that afterword is a different word with a different meaning. Once you understand this distinction, choosing between afterward and afterwards becomes much easier.
