Thereafter means after that, from then on. The centre opened in 2018 and expanded shortly thereafter. The equipment was inspected in May and every six months thereafter: first in May, then twice a year. The word is official: reports, contracts, instructions; in conversation, people say after that.
How would you use thereafter?
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an event / time, then thereafter; shortly thereafter; every year thereafter
- The centre opened in 2018 and expanded shortly thereafter.
- The equipment was inspected in May and every six months thereafter.
- Complete the first training session; thereafter, you can book the workshop independently.
What changed
First versionThe room reopened thereafter the repairs.
RevisionThe room reopened after the repairs.
Thereafter looks like after, so a noun follows it: thereafter the repairs. But 'that' is already inside it: thereafter means 'after that'. So either use after the repairs, or put the event first and thereafter after it: The repairs finished; the room reopened shortly thereafter.
Afterwards means the same 'later', only more conversational: We had lunch afterwards. Thereafter is handy for routines: every year thereafter, every year from then on. Subsequently means 'later' about a following event: She subsequently moved to Paris.
Your turn
Choose the word meaning after that: The renovation was completed in June; the building reopened shortly ___.
Show the answer
thereafter — The building reopened soon after the renovation, after rather than before, so thereafter. Beforehand means 'in advance'.
Describe an event and what happened regularly after it: a repair, an inspection, a check-up. Use thereafter.
The team replaced the filter in March and checked it monthly thereafter.
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