Confusing Words: Afterward and Afterwards (adverb)
Meaning: at a later or future time.
Afterward vs Afterwards Clarification: Afterward and afterwards are two yet same adverbs that has same meaning and same usage in writing.
Afterward vs Afterwards – What is the Difference, Definition & Meaning?
Sometimes, people get confused while speaking or writing English language. People have different speaking styles like; some people add an –s to many adverbs. Let us take an example of ‘anyway’.
Anyway is an adverb. Mostly, people say anyways instead of anyway which is quite wrong. Anyways is considered to be slang and cannot be used in formal English.
Before going to our today’s discussion on afterward or afterwards, let us clear our minds of the following confusion.
Make sure that ‘afterword’ is far more different word than ‘afterward’. Afterword is misused by most of the people or they even get confused in spellings. So, it is very important to get out of this confusion.
In simple words, afterword is a noun whereas afterward is said to be an adverb.
The definition of afterword is saying that it is an epilogue or a section at the end of a book. For example;
• William Shakespeare’s play Romeo and Juliet has an interesting epilogue/afterword that greatly sums up the tragedy of two lovers.
After getting information about afterword, let us clear up our confusion of our main words afterward and afterwards.
Afterward
meaning later, then, after or a future time.
1. I heard you had a good sleep, and had a cup of coffee afterward.
2. He found out the truth long afterward. Reference – (Merriam Webster Dictionary)
Afterwards
Carries the same meaning as afterward and can be used in the same contexts.
So, the meaning and the usage of afterward and afterwards are the same. Both are adverbs and interchangeable. You can use both of the words without any hesitation. A little problem is with people.
The people of North-America prefer ‘afterward’ instead of afterwards, while the people from outside the U.S. and Canada like to use ‘afterwards’ in speaking or writing. But do not get confused, as there is not a strict rule for this choice.
What Did You Learn?
Afterward and afterwards are two yet same adverbs that has same meaning and same usage in writing. In terms of pronunciation, people get confused with the word afterword which is a noun. Afterword is a different word which is an end portion of a book. So, make sure, not to get confused again.
In terms of afterward and afterwards, just remember to use afterwards with the people outside the U.S. and Canada, whereas afterward with North-Americans.