Later on means later, afterwards, at a later time. People use it for what will happen after the present moment or what happened after an event already mentioned: I'm busy now, but I'll call you later on. In meaning it's the same as later, and on makes it sound more conversational. The lookalike lately means “recently”: it looks back at the recent past, not forward. In essays, later or afterwards is usually enough.
How would you use later on?
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clause + later on; Later on, + clause; later on + today/that evening/in the film; period + later (three days later)
- I'm in a meeting until four, but I can call you later on.
- The first chapter is slow, but later on the story gets really exciting.
- We stayed in a hostel at first and later on found a cheap flat near the university.
What changed
First versionWe'll discuss the details lately, when everyone is back from holiday.
RevisionWe'll discuss the details later on, when everyone is back from holiday.
Lately looks like late, so it seems to mean “later”. But lately means recently: I haven't slept well lately. For what happens afterwards, use later or later on. So lately was replaced with later on.
When a period of time is named, people usually say just later, without on: Three days later, she called back. Later on is handy when the timing doesn't matter or is expressed another way: later on that evening, later on in the film.
Your turn
At first I hated the job, but ___ I realised how much I was learning.
Show the answer
later on — This is about the past: at first you hated the job, and afterwards you realised something. Later on conveys that “afterwards”. Lately means “recently” and doesn't fit a single past event like I realised.
Write how your attitude to an activity changed: what you thought of it at first and what changed later. Use later on.
At first I thought running was boring, but later on I started to enjoy the quiet time alone.
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