Afterward or Afterwards: Which One Should You Use?

You finish writing a sentence “We went out for dinner, and afterward we watched a movie” and then you pause.

Should it be afterward or afterwards?

If this tiny “s” has ever made you second-guess yourself, you’re not alone. It’s one of those subtle differences in English that doesn’t change meaning—but can affect tone, style, and even how professional your writing feels.

Let’s clear it up so you can choose confidently every time.

The Quick Answer

✅ Afterward → preferred in American English
✅ Afterwards → preferred in British English

Both words mean exactly the same thing: at a later time.

Why There Are Two Versions

The difference between afterward and afterwards comes down to regional language styles.

American English tends to drop the “-s” in adverbs (afterward, toward, forward)
British English often keeps the “-s” (afterwards, towards, forwards)

This pattern shows up in several similar words, not just this one.

What Does “Afterward” / “Afterwards” Mean?

Both versions mean:

👉 At a later time
👉 Following something else

Real-life examples:

We had lunch, and afterward we went for a walk.
She finished her work and relaxed afterwards.
He apologized, but things felt awkward afterward.

No matter which version you use, the meaning stays the same.

Side-by-Side Comparison

Feature	Afterward ✅	Afterwards ✅
Meaning	At a later time	At a later time
Region	American English	British English
Usage preference	USA, business writing	UK, Commonwealth countries
Example	We talked afterward.	We talked afterwards.
Correctness	✔ Correct	✔ Correct

Real-Life Examples (Natural Usage)

We met earlier, and afterward we grabbed coffee.
She completed the task and felt relieved afterwards.
The meeting ended, and afterward everyone left quickly.
He didn’t say much during the event but spoke more afterwards.

Both forms sound natural—it just depends on your style.

So… Which One Should You Use?

Use afterward if:

You’re writing for an American audience
You’re working in business, tech, or international communication
You want a slightly cleaner, shorter style

Use afterwards if:

You’re writing for a British or international audience
You prefer traditional or slightly formal tone
You’re following UK spelling conventions

Practical Tips to Stay Consistent

1. Choose a style and stick to it

Mixing afterward and afterwards in the same piece can look inconsistent.

2. Follow related patterns

If you use:

toward → use afterward
towards → use afterwards

3. Check your audience

If your readers are global, afterward is often slightly more common in international business writing.

A Small but Interesting Detail

The “-s” ending in words like afterwards, towards, and forwards comes from older English usage. Over time, American English simplified many of these forms by dropping the “-s.”

That’s why both versions still exist today—they evolved differently but remained correct.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Mixing both forms in one document
Thinking one is incorrect (both are correct)
Using the wrong version for your audience

Example:

We met afterward and spoke again afterwards. ❌ (inconsistent)

Better:

We met afterward and spoke again afterward. ✅

We met afterwards and spoke again afterwards. ✅

Quick Memory Check

Which is correct?

We finished the meeting and talked afterward. ✅ (US English)
We finished the meeting and talked afterwards. ✅ (UK English)

Both are correct—just choose based on your style.

Practical Usage in Everyday Writing

Emails:
“Let’s discuss this afterward.”
Casual writing:
“We went out afterwards.”
Professional communication:
“We’ll review the results afterward.”
Storytelling:
“He didn’t understand it at the time, but afterwards it all made sense.”

Conclusion

Afterward vs afterwards isn’t about right or wrong—it’s about style and consistency:

Afterward → American English
Afterwards → British English

Quick tip: Pick one based on your audience and stick with it.

Once you know that, this tiny difference becomes easy and your writing feels more polished and intentional.