Afterward vs. Afterwards: The Complete Guide for Writers
Introduction: Why These Two Words Confuse So Many Writers
If you’ve ever paused mid-sentence wondering whether to type “afterward” or “afterwards,” you’re not alone. These two words look nearly identical, sound almost the same, and show up constantly in everyday writing — from emails to novels to news articles. Yet writers still second-guess themselves every time.
The good news? Once you understand where this pair of words comes from and how regional English varieties treat them, the confusion disappears for good. This guide breaks down everything you need to know — the meaning, the grammar, the regional split, and simple memory tricks that make the choice automatic.
The Core Difference Between Afterward and Afterwards
Both words mean the exact same thing.
Here’s the short answer: there is no difference in meaning between afterward and afterwards. Both function as adverbs describing something that happens later in time or after a previously mentioned event. If you swap one for the other in any sentence, the meaning stays exactly the same.
For example:
- “We grabbed coffee and talked afterward.”
- “We grabbed coffee and talked afterwards.”
Both sentences are grammatically correct and mean identical things.
So why do we have two versions?
English has a habit of keeping multiple spelling variants alive when different regions develop their own conventions over time. Afterward and afterwards are a textbook example of this. Rather than one being “correct” and the other a mistake, both simply evolved side by side and settled into different regional preferences.
Origins of the Words
Where the –ward and –wards suffixes came from
Both words trace back to Old English directional suffixes:
- -ward originally indicated direction or orientation (think “homeward,” “backward”).
- -wards is a later variant that added an “s,” a pattern common in many English adverbs of direction and time.
Over centuries, many English words developed matching -ward/-wards pairs, including “toward/towards,” “backward/backwards,” and “forward/forwards.” Afterward and afterwards followed this same evolutionary path, eventually splitting along geographic lines rather than grammatical ones.
Regional Usage Patterns: Who Uses Which?
American English prefers “afterward.”
In the United States and Canada, “afterward” (without the final “s”) is the more common and widely accepted form, especially in formal and published writing.
British English prefers “afterwards.”
In the United Kingdom, Australia, and most other English-speaking countries outside North America, “afterwards” is the standard choice.
Regional Usage Table
| Region | Preferred Form | Common Context |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Afterward | Books, journalism, business writing |
| Canada | Afterward | Formal and everyday writing |
| United Kingdom | Afterwards | Literature, news, casual speech |
| Australia | Afterwards | Everyday and formal writing |
| India | Afterwards | Influenced by British English norms |
Why the difference?
Language historians point to broader spelling divergence between American and British English — similar to “color” vs. “colour” or “realize” vs. “realise.” As American English standardized in the 19th and 20th centuries, it tended to favor shorter, simpler spellings, while British English retained older, longer forms.
Real-World Usage Examples
Examples from American Writing
- “The team met for a debrief afterward.”
- “Afterward, the company issued a public statement.”
- “He felt relieved afterward, knowing the worst was over.”
Examples from British Writing
- “The team met for a debrief afterwards.”
- “Afterwards, the company issued a public statement.”
- “She felt relieved afterwards, knowing the worst was over.”
Tone and Formality
Neither word carries more formality than the other — the difference is purely regional, not stylistic. That said, consistency matters more than which word you pick. Mixing both forms within the same document can look careless, even if each individual sentence is technically correct.
Grammar and Part of Speech: How the Words Function
Both afterward and afterwards are adverbs of time. They describe when an action takes place relative to another event, answering the question “when?”
They do not function as:
- Nouns
- Adjectives
- Prepositions
- Conjunctions
This is an important distinction, since related words like “after” can serve multiple grammatical roles (preposition, conjunction, or adverb), while afterward/afterwards stick strictly to adverb duty.
Correct grammatical placement
- At the end of a sentence: “We’ll discuss it afterward.”
- At the beginning of a sentence, followed by a comma: “Afterward, we discussed it.”
- Mid-sentence, set off by commas: “The meeting, afterward, moved to the lobby.”
Incorrect usage:
- ❌ “We met afterward the concert.” (Should be “after the concert” — afterward cannot take a direct object.)
- ❌ “The afterward was surprising.” (Should be “afterword,” referring to a section in a book — not the adverb at all.)
Common Confusion: Afterward vs. Afterword
Afterword is NOT the same as “afterward/afterwards.”
This is one of the most common mix-ups in writing. “Afterword” is a completely different word — a noun referring to a short closing section of a book, usually written by someone other than the author, offering reflection or additional context.
Why people confuse them
The words look and sound almost identical, differing by just one letter. Because both relate loosely to “something that comes after,” writers often type one when they mean the other.
Side-by-side examples
| Word | Part of Speech | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Afterward | Adverb | At a later time | “She called afterward to apologize.” |
| Afterwards | Adverb | At a later time (same meaning) | “She called afterwards to apologize.” |
| Afterword | Noun | Closing section of a book | “The novel’s afterword explained the author’s inspiration.” |
How to Choose the Right Word
Use afterward if:
- You’re writing for an American or Canadian audience.
- You’re following U.S.-based style guides (AP, Chicago).
- Your publication targets a North American readership.
Use afterwards if:
- You’re writing for a British, Australian, or international audience.
- Your content follows British English conventions.
- You’re translating or localizing content for UK-based readers.
Style Guide Notes
Most major American style guides, including the Associated Press Stylebook and The Chicago Manual of Style, lean toward “afterward” as the standard form for U.S. publications. British publishers generally default to “afterwards” without much debate.
Professional Writing Recommendation
Pick one form based on your audience’s region and stay consistent throughout the entire document. Editors and readers alike notice inconsistency far more than they notice which variant you chose.
Memory Tricks to Avoid Confusion
1. The “S for UK” Trick
Think: “S” for “Sceptred Isle” — the extra “s” in afterwards matches British spelling habits (like “colours” and “favourites”).
2. The “Shorter for America” Trick
American English often trims extra letters (“color,” “afterward”). If you’re writing for a U.S. audience, drop the “s.”
3. The “Word vs. Time” Trick
Remember: afterword has “word” in it because it’s about words in a book. Afterward/afterwards is about time.
4. The Movie Timeline Trick
Picture a movie’s ending credits rolling “afterward” — the scene, not a section of text. This helps separate the adverb from the noun “afterword.”
5. The Sound Trick
Say the sentence aloud. If it sounds natural without the “s,” you’re likely writing in American style. If the “s” feels necessary, you’re leaning British.
Case Study: How One Company Standardized Usage
A mid-sized software company with both U.S. and UK offices once found its blog inconsistent — some articles used “afterward,” others “afterwards,” sometimes within the same post. After auditing over 200 articles, the content team created a simple style rule: U.S.-facing content uses “afterward,” while UK-facing localized versions use “afterwards.” This single change improved readability scores and reduced editing time, showing how something as small as one letter can affect a brand’s professionalism and consistency.
Short Quotes Writers Love
- “Consistency, not correctness, is what separates polished writing from sloppy writing.”
- “One letter can carry an entire dialect’s history.”
- “Grammar rules bend by geography, not by logic alone.”
FAQs
What is the difference between afterward and afterwards?
There’s no difference in meaning — both mean “at a later time.” The only distinction is regional preference: afterward is American, afterwards is British.
Is it wrong to use “afterwards” in American English?
No, it’s not wrong. It’s simply less common in formal U.S. writing, where “afterward” is typically preferred.
Which should I use in professional writing?
Choose based on your audience’s region and stay consistent throughout your document.
Are afterward and afterword the same?
No. Afterword is a noun referring to a closing section of a book, while afterward/afterwards are adverbs describing time.
Can afterward or afterwards be used as a noun?
No, both words function only as adverbs and cannot act as nouns, adjectives, or prepositions.
Conclusion
Afterward and afterwards are two branches of the same word, split apart by geography rather than grammar. Whichever one you choose, the meaning stays the same — what matters most is picking the version that fits your audience and sticking with it consistently. Master this small distinction, and you’ll write with the kind of precision that readers and editors immediately trust.
