Afterwards vs. Thereafter

Attribute	Afterwards	Thereafter
Definition	At a later or subsequent time	At a later or subsequent time
Usage	Commonly used in British English	Commonly used in American English
Formality	Considered more formal	Considered less formal
Origin	Middle English, from afterward + -s	Old English, from thær after

Definition

Afterwards and thereafter are both adverbs that refer to time. Afterwards is used to indicate something that happens after a particular event or time, while thereafter is used to indicate something that happens after a specified time or event. The main difference between the two is that afterwards is more commonly used in British English, while thereafter is more commonly used in American English.

Usage

Afterwards is often used in spoken and written English to refer to something that happens after a specific event. For example, "We went to the movies, and afterwards we went out for dinner." Thereafter, on the other hand, is used to refer to something that happens after a specified time or event. For example, "The company announced a new policy, and thereafter, employee morale improved."

Formality

Afterwards is considered to be more informal than thereafter. It is commonly used in everyday speech and informal writing. Thereafter, on the other hand, is considered to be more formal and is often used in legal documents, contracts, and official communications. For example, "The defendant must pay the fine within 30 days, and thereafter, the case will be closed."

Clarity

Afterwards is often used to refer to events that are more immediate and closely connected in time. It is used to indicate a sequence of events that follow one after the other. Thereafter, on the other hand, is used to refer to events that are more distant in time or less closely connected. It is used to indicate a broader time frame or a more general sequence of events.

Examples

• Afterwards, we went for a walk in the park.
• She finished her work and thereafter went home.
• He apologized for his mistake, but the damage was done.
• They attended the meeting, and afterwards, they went out for drinks.

Conclusion

Afterwards and thereafter are both adverbs that refer to time, but they are used in slightly different contexts. Afterwards is more commonly used in British English and is considered to be more informal, while thereafter is more commonly used in American English and is considered to be more formal. Understanding the differences between the two can help you use them correctly in your writing and speech.