Afterward vs Afterwards: American vs British English

The words afterward and afterwards are often confused because they have almost identical spellings and exactly the same basic meaning. Both are adverbs of time that describe something happening later or following a particular event. For example, you can say, “We went shopping and had dinner afterward” or “We went shopping and had dinner afterwards.” Both sentences are grammatically correct.

So, what is the difference between afterward vs afterwards, and which spelling should you use? The main difference is regional preference. Afterward is generally more common in American English, while afterwards is more frequently used in British English. However, neither form is exclusive to one variety of English, and both are widely understood.

The difference also raises an interesting question about the final -s. Does it indicate a plural meaning, or does it come from an older form of English? Understanding the meaning, grammatical function, historical background, and regional usage of these words will help you choose the right form confidently.

Quick Answer: Afterward vs Afterwards

Afterward and afterwards both mean at a later time or following an event. They are interchangeable adverbs, and neither is grammatically incorrect. American English generally favors afterward, while British English more commonly uses afterwards. The final -s does not indicate a plural. Choose either spelling according to your preferred English variety.

Why Do People Confuse Afterward and Afterwards?

People confuse afterward and afterwards because the two words have the same pronunciation, grammatical function, and meaning. The only visible difference is the final letter s.

For example:

• We finished our homework and went outside afterward.
• We finished our homework and went outside afterwards.

Both sentences communicate exactly the same idea. The second action happens after the first one.

Another reason for the confusion is that English has several similar pairs, including toward vs towards, backward vs backwards, and forward vs forwards. Some of these pairs show noticeable regional preferences, while others have more complicated usage patterns.

There is also a historical explanation for the additional -s. It is not simply a plural ending or a meaningless modern addition. In words such as afterwards, it is connected to an older English grammatical form called the genitive.

What Does Afterward Mean?

Afterward is an adverb meaning at a later time, after something has happened, or following a particular event. It tells readers or listeners when an action takes place in relation to another action.

The word is especially common in American English, although it is also used in British and international English.

Examples of afterward:

• We finished dinner and watched a movie afterward.
• She visited her grandmother and went shopping afterward.
• The meeting ended, and everyone went home afterward.
• I felt much better afterward.
• We can discuss the details afterward.

In each example, afterward indicates that one event takes place following another.

Is Afterward a Verb, Noun, or Adjective?

No. Afterward is an adverb, not a verb, noun, or adjective.

It explains when something happens rather than describing a person, place, or object.

For example:

• Correct: We discussed the problem afterward.
• Incorrect: We planned an afterward meeting.
• Better: We planned a meeting for later.

If you need an adjective to describe something that happens later, you can use later, subsequent, or another suitable expression.

What Does Afterwards Mean?

Afterwards is an adverb meaning at a later time or after a particular event. It has the same meaning and grammatical function as afterward.

The word is especially common in British English, although it is also used by American speakers.

Examples of afterwards:

• We had lunch and went to the park afterwards.
• She completed her examination and celebrated afterwards.
• They visited the museum and had coffee afterwards.
• I will call you afterwards.
• He apologized afterwards.

In these sentences, afterwards tells the reader that an action happened following an earlier event.

Is Afterwards Grammatically Correct?

Yes. Afterwards is completely grammatically correct and is not an informal or incorrect version of afterward.

The final -s does not change its meaning or make it plural.

For example:

• We went to the cinema afterwards.
• She spoke to her teacher afterwards.
• They discussed the results afterwards.

All three sentences are correct in standard English.

Afterward vs Afterwards: Comparison Table

Here is a side-by-side comparison to help you understand the similarities and differences.

Feature	Afterward	Afterwards
Meaning	At a later time	At a later time
Part of speech	Adverb	Adverb
American English	Generally preferred	Also used
British English	Also used	Generally preferred
Grammar	Correct	Correct
Pronunciation	Same	Same
Plural meaning	No	No
Formal writing	Acceptable	Acceptable
Example	We talked afterward.	We talked afterwards.

Key point: Both words are correct and interchangeable. The main difference is their frequency and regional preference, not their meaning.

When Should You Use Afterward or Afterwards?

Choosing between these two words depends mainly on your audience, writing style, and preferred variety of English.

When to Use Afterward

Use afterward when writing in American English or following an American English style guide.

It is a natural choice for:

• American academic writing
• School assignments
• Professional emails
• American publications
• Everyday conversations

Examples:

• We will discuss the results afterward.
• She went home afterward.
• I will send you the information afterward.
• The students completed their work and played outside afterward.

When to Use Afterwards

Use afterwards when writing in British English or following British English conventions.

It is commonly used in:

• British school assignments
• UK publications
• Professional correspondence
• Everyday British conversations
• Other varieties of English that favor the longer form

Examples:

• We went out for dinner afterwards.
• He spoke to his teacher afterwards.
• They visited their friends afterwards.
• She finished reading the book and wrote a review afterwards.

Can You Use Both Words Interchangeably?

Yes. You can replace afterward with afterwards without changing the basic meaning of a sentence.

For example:

• We went to the restaurant afterward.
• We went to the restaurant afterwards.

Both sentences are correct.

However, if you are writing a formal article, essay, or professional document, it is better to choose one spelling and use it consistently.

15 Examples of Afterward vs Afterwards in Sentences

The following examples show how both forms work in everyday English.

Afterward	Afterwards
We had breakfast and went shopping afterward.	We had breakfast and went shopping afterwards.
She called her mother afterward.	She called her mother afterwards.
I felt tired afterward.	I felt tired afterwards.
They went home afterward.	They went home afterwards.
We talked about the movie afterward.	We talked about the movie afterwards.
He apologized afterward.	He apologized afterwards.
I will explain everything afterward.	I will explain everything afterwards.
She took a short break afterward.	She took a short break afterwards.
They celebrated afterward.	They celebrated afterwards.
We visited the library afterward.	We visited the library afterwards.

More Everyday Examples

• Afterward: I usually drink coffee after lunch, but I prefer tea afterward.
• Afterwards: We attended the wedding and visited our relatives afterwards.
• Afterward: The students discussed their answers afterward.
• Afterwards: She completed her assignment and went to bed afterwards.
• Afterward: He went to the gym and returned home afterward.

These examples demonstrate that the two words can be used in exactly the same sentence structures.

Does the S in Afterwards Mean Plural?

No. The -s in afterwards does not indicate a plural meaning.

This is an important point because English learners sometimes assume that adding s to a word makes it plural. That rule applies to many nouns, but it does not explain the spelling of afterwards.

The final -s has a historical connection to the Old English genitive case, an older grammatical form that expressed relationships between words.

In modern English, some words have retained traces of older grammatical endings even though their original functions are no longer productive in the same way.

For example, words such as once and always also have historical connections to older forms involving -s.

Therefore, the s in afterwards is not a plural marker. It is part of the established spelling of the adverb.

What Is the Historical Origin of -Ward and -Wards?

The suffix -ward comes from Old English -weard, which was used to express direction or movement toward something.

For example:

• Forward: Toward the front.
• Backward: Toward the back.
• Toward: In the direction of something.
• Afterward: At a time following something.

The forms ending in -wards developed alongside the shorter forms. Both versions have existed in English for a long time.

This explains why the additional s is not necessarily a recent invention or a grammatical mistake.

Common Mistakes When Using Afterward and Afterwards

Although these words are straightforward, English learners sometimes misunderstand their differences.

Here are some common mistakes to avoid.

1. Thinking That Afterwards Is Incorrect

Some people believe that afterwards is wrong because it contains an unnecessary letter.

That is not true. Both afterward and afterwards are accepted standard English forms.

2. Assuming the S Indicates Plurality

The additional s does not make afterwards plural. Both words function as adverbs.

• Correct: We talked afterwards.
• Incorrect explanation: Afterwards means multiple afters.

3. Using Afterward as an Adjective

Both words are adverbs, so they do not normally function as adjectives before nouns.

• Incorrect: We arranged an afterward meeting.
• Correct: We arranged a later meeting.

4. Confusing After With Afterwards

The word after has several grammatical functions, while afterwards is an adverb.

Compare:

• We went home after the meeting.
• We went home afterwards.

The first sentence uses after as a preposition. The second uses afterwards as an adverb.

5. Assuming Every -Ward Word Follows the Same Regional Rule

It is tempting to assume that every word ending in -ward follows exactly the same American and British spelling pattern.

However, actual usage varies from word to word. For example, forward is widely used without the final s in both American and British English.

It is better to learn each word’s common usage rather than apply one rule to every example.

Memory Trick: How to Remember Afterward vs Afterwards

Here is an easy way to remember which form to use.

• Afterward: Think of American English and its preference for the shorter spelling.
• Afterwards: Think of British English and its preference for the spelling with an additional s.

Remember this simple sentence:

Both words mean the same thing; the extra S changes neither the meaning nor the grammatical function.

If you are writing for an American audience, choose afterward. If your audience follows British English, afterwards is a natural choice.

Afterward vs Afterwards in American and British English

Regional English differences explain why both forms exist and why one may sound more natural than the other.

American English: Afterward

American English generally favors afterward.

For example:

• We will talk about it afterward.
• She went home afterward.
• I will see you afterward.

However, afterwards is not wrong in American English. It is also used and understood by American speakers.

British English: Afterwards

British English generally favors afterwards.

For example:

• We went to the restaurant afterwards.
• She called her friend afterwards.
• They discussed the matter afterwards.

British speakers also use afterward, but the version ending in s is more commonly associated with British usage.

Which Form Should English Learners Choose?

Your choice should depend on the variety of English you are learning.

• Choose afterward for American English.
• Choose afterwards for British English.
• Either form is acceptable for general international communication.

The most important thing is to maintain consistency rather than treating one form as incorrect.

Similar Words: Toward vs Towards, Forward vs Forwards, and Backward vs Backwards

The spelling variation in afterward vs afterwards also appears in other English words. However, their regional patterns are not always identical.

1. Toward vs Towards

Both words mean moving or pointing in the direction of something.

• American English commonly uses: He walked toward the door.
• British English commonly uses: He walked towards the door.

Both forms are grammatically correct.

2. Forward vs Forwards

Both forms can describe movement toward the front or a position ahead.

• Move forward slowly.
• Move forwards slowly.

The shorter form forward is widely used in both American and British English, so the regional distinction is less clear-cut.

3. Backward vs Backwards

Both words can mean toward the back or in the opposite direction.

• American English commonly uses: She stepped backward.
• British English commonly uses: She stepped backwards.

As an adjective, however, backward is the standard form.

For example:

• He took a backward step.
• She made a backward movement.

4. Upward vs Upwards

Both words mean toward a higher position.

• The balloon moved upward.
• The balloon moved upwards.

Both forms are correct, although regional preferences can vary.

5. Downward vs Downwards

Both words mean toward a lower position.

• The temperature moved downward.
• The temperature moved downwards.

Again, both forms are accepted.

These related words demonstrate that English spelling has several historical and regional variations. However, it is important to consider each pair individually instead of assuming that all words follow identical rules.

Final Verdict: Afterward or Afterwards?

So, which should you use: afterward or afterwards?

The answer is simple: both are correct, and both have the same meaning. The difference is mainly a matter of regional preference and writing style.

Remember these important points:

• Afterward is generally preferred in American English.
• Afterwards is generally preferred in British English.
• Both words are adverbs meaning at a later time.
• The final s does not indicate plurality.
• Neither spelling is grammatically incorrect.
• Related words such as toward/towards and backward/backwards have similar variations, but their usage patterns differ.

If you are writing for a specific audience, follow its preferred English convention. Otherwise, choose either form and use it consistently.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Is It Afterward or Afterwards?

Both afterward and afterwards are correct. They have the same meaning and grammatical function. American English generally favors afterward, while British English more commonly uses afterwards.

2. Is Afterwards British or American English?

Afterwards is more commonly associated with British English, although it is also used in American English. It is a standard spelling and is not grammatically incorrect.

3. Do Americans Say Afterward or Afterwards?

Americans generally prefer afterward, particularly in standard American writing. However, some American speakers also use afterwards. Both forms are understood.

4. Does the S in Afterwards Mean Plural?

No. The final -s in afterwards does not indicate plurality. It has a historical connection to an older English genitive form and is now part of the established adverb spelling.

5. Can I Use Afterwards in Formal Writing?

Yes. Afterwards is acceptable in formal writing, particularly when following British English conventions. It is not an informal or incorrect alternative to afterward.

6. What Is the Difference Between After and Afterwards?

After can function as a preposition, conjunction, or adverb, depending on the sentence. Afterwards is an adverb meaning at a later time.

Examples:

• We left after dinner.
• We left afterwards.

Both sentences are correct, but their grammatical structures are different.

7. Are Afterward and Subsequently the Same?

They have similar meanings, but their usage can differ slightly. Afterward means at a later time, while subsequently means following something in time or sequence. Subsequently often sounds more formal and is common in academic writing.

Remember This

• Afterward and afterwards have the same meaning.
• Both are grammatically correct adverbs.
• Afterward is generally preferred in American English.
• Afterwards is generally preferred in British English.
• The final s does not indicate a plural.
• The two spellings have a historical connection to older English forms.
• Related words include toward/towards, forward/forwards, and backward/backwards.
• Choose one spelling and use it consistently.

Conclusion

Understanding afterward vs afterwards becomes easy when you recognize that both words mean the same thing: something happens at a later time or following another event. The main difference is regional preference, with afterward generally favored in American English and afterwards more common in British English. Neither form is incorrect, and the additional s does not indicate a plural meaning.

The historical background also explains why these spelling variations exist. The ending is connected to older English grammatical forms, rather than being a simple modern plural marker. if you choose afterward or afterwards, focus on your audience, follow a consistent writing style, and use the form that sounds most natural in your variety of English.