Afterward vs Afterwards: Which Spelling Is Correct?

Afterward and afterwards both mean “at a later time” or “after something has happened.” The main difference is regional usage, not meaning.

Afterward is more common in American English, while afterwards is especially common in British English.

Both forms are correct, and neither changes the meaning of a sentence. This difference exists because English has developed different spelling and usage preferences in different English-speaking regions.

In this guide, you will learn the meaning, history, spelling rules, and everyday use of afterward and afterwards.

You will also learn which form to choose for American, British, Commonwealth, and international audiences.

Table of Contents

Quick Answer

Afterward and afterwards are both correct adverbs. They mean later, after that, or at a later time.

The main difference is regional preference:

Afterward → more common in American English
Afterwards → mainly used in British English
Meaning → the same
Part of speech → adverb
Grammar → both are correct

Cambridge identifies afterward as a US form and afterwards as mainly UK usage.

Examples

American English:

We went home afterward.

British English:

We went home afterwards.

Both sentences mean that the people went home after something else happened.

You can also use either form after words such as soon, shortly, immediately, and right.

She called me shortly afterward.

She called me shortly afterwards.

Again, the meaning does not change.

The Origin of Afterward vs Afterwards

The history of afterward goes back to Old English. The word developed from an older form related to after and the suffix -ward, which expressed direction or position. The original sense was connected with being behind or following.

The modern meaning developed into the idea of something happening later in time.

Afterwards developed from afterward with an adverbial -s. Etymological records date this form to around the 14th century.

This helps explain why the two forms look almost identical.

The extra s does not create a different meaning. It is part of an established variant of the word.

English has several words with similar -ward and -wards patterns. For example:

toward / towards
backward / backwards
forward / forwards
afterward / afterwards

Regional English developed different preferences for these forms. Over time, American and British English established their own common patterns.

Today, both afterward and afterwards remain standard English words.

British English vs American English Spelling

The biggest difference between afterward and afterwards is regional preference.

In American English, afterward is generally the preferred form. Cambridge lists it as a US form and also recognizes afterwards as a variant.

In British English, afterwards is especially common. Cambridge labels it “mainly UK.”

Comparison Table

Feature	Afterward	Afterwards
Meaning	At a later time	At a later time
Part of speech	Adverb	Adverb
American English	Common/preferred	Correct but less typical
British English	Correct	Common/preferred
Spelling	No final s	Final s
Formality	Neutral	Neutral
Meaning difference	None	None
Example	We talked afterward.	We talked afterwards.

American English

American writers commonly use afterward.

Examples:

We discussed the plan afterward.

She left shortly afterward.

I called him immediately afterward.

They went out for dinner afterward.

British English

British writers commonly use afterwards.

Examples:

We discussed the plan afterwards.

She left shortly afterwards.

I called him immediately afterwards.

They went out for dinner afterwards.

The important point is that neither spelling is automatically wrong. The choice mainly depends on the variety of English you are using.

Which Spelling Should You Use?

Choose the spelling that matches your audience.

For American English

Use afterward when writing mainly for readers in the United States.

This works well in:

School assignments
Business emails
Academic writing
Websites
News writing
Professional documents

Example:

We will discuss the results afterward.

For British English

Use afterwards when writing for a British audience.

Example:

We will discuss the results afterwards.

This form is also natural in many Commonwealth varieties of English.

For Commonwealth English

Afterwards is a familiar choice in British-influenced varieties such as Australian and New Zealand English.

However, English usage can vary by country, publication, and individual style.

For a Global Audience

Both forms are widely understood internationally.

If your website targets a mixed audience, consistency is more important than trying to find a single universally correct form.

For US-focused content, choose afterward.

For UK-focused content, choose afterwards.

If your organization already follows a style guide, follow that guide consistently.

Common Mistakes with Afterward vs Afterwards

Mistake 1: Thinking One Form Is Wrong

A common mistake is assuming that afterwards is incorrect because American English often uses afterward.

Both are standard forms.

Incorrect assumption:

Afterwards is always wrong.

Better understanding:

Afterwards is common in British English.

Mistake 2: Using “Afterwords”

Do not confuse afterward or afterwards with afterword.

An afterword is a section at the end of a book.

The author included an afterword at the end of the novel.

But:

We talked afterwards.

These words have different meanings.

Mistake 3: Mixing Regional Styles

Using both forms randomly in the same document can make your writing look inconsistent.

For example:

We met afterward. We discussed the issue afterwards.

This is not grammatically wrong, but if your document follows one regional style, it is better to remain consistent.

Mistake 4: Adding an Unnecessary Space

Do not write:

after wards

The correct forms are:

afterward

afterwards

Mistake 5: Confusing It With “After”

The words can sometimes be similar, but afterward specifically works as an adverb meaning later.

We went home afterward.

You can also use after as an adverb in suitable contexts:

We went home after.

However, afterwards is often more natural when referring clearly to a later event.

Afterward vs Afterwards in Everyday Examples

Both forms can appear in casual, professional, academic, and formal writing.

In Emails

American English:

I will send you the updated document afterward.

British English:

I will send you the updated document afterwards.

In News Writing

American style:

The meeting ended, and the committee issued a statement afterward.

British style:

The meeting ended, and the committee issued a statement afterwards.

On Social Media

We went for coffee afterward.

We went for coffee afterwards.

Both are natural.

In Formal Writing

The researchers reviewed the results afterward.

The researchers reviewed the results afterwards.

The spelling does not make the sentence more or less formal.

With “Shortly”

Both versions are correct:

The company announced the change and shortly afterward introduced the new policy.

The company announced the change and shortly afterwards introduced the new policy.

With “Soon”

She moved abroad and soon afterward found a new job.

She moved abroad and soon afterwards found a new job.

Afterward vs Afterwards – Google Trends & Usage Data

Google Trends can help compare search interest by country, but it is important to understand what the data means. Google Trends reports relative search interest, not the exact number of searches. A value of 100 represents the highest search interest within the selected comparison and time period.

For afterward vs afterwards, regional language preference is more useful than treating search interest as a measure of grammatical correctness.

Dictionary evidence shows a clear regional pattern:

United States: afterward is the usual form.
United Kingdom: afterwards is mainly used.
International English: both forms are understood.
British-influenced English: afterwards is widely familiar.

Cambridge explicitly identifies afterward with US English and afterwards as mainly UK English.

Therefore, if you are analyzing Google search behavior for SEO, remember that search volume can reflect regional spelling habits, educational content, and search intent. A higher search interest score does not mean one spelling is grammatically better.

For precise SEO research, compare the two terms in Google Trends using the same country, language, search type, and date range.

Afterward vs Afterwards – Comparison Table

Word or Phrase	Correct?	Meaning	Common Usage
afterward	Yes	At a later time	American English
afterwards	Yes	At a later time	British English
afterward(s)	Yes	Later or after that	General explanation
afterword	Yes, but different	Closing section of a book	Books
afterwords	Yes, but different	Plural of afterword	Books

The key distinction is simple: afterward and afterwards describe time, while afterword refers to a section at the end of a book.

FAQS

1. Is afterward or afterwards correct?

Both afterward and afterwards are correct. Afterward is more common in American English, while afterwards is especially common in British English.

2. Is afterward American or British?

Afterward is particularly associated with American English. It is also understood and used in other varieties of English.

3. Is afterwards British English?

Yes. Afterwards is mainly associated with British English and is a common British form.

4. Does afterward mean the same as afterwards?

Yes. Both mean at a later time or after something has happened.

5. Can I use afterwards in American English?

Yes. It is understandable and recognized in American English, although afterward is generally the more typical American choice.

6. Which is more formal, afterward or afterwards?

Neither is more formal. Both are neutral adverbs and can be used in formal and informal writing.

7. What is the difference between afterword and afterwards?

Afterword means a section at the end of a book. Afterwards means at a later time.

Example:

I read the afterword afterwards.

Here, afterword is the book section, while afterwards means later.

Conclusion

Afterward and afterwards are both correct spellings with the same basic meaning: “at a later time” or “after something has happened.”

The main rule is that afterward is more common in American English, while afterwards is especially common in British English.

Neither form is grammatically superior, so your audience should guide your choice.

The practical takeaway is simple: use afterward for US-focused writing and afterwards for British-focused writing, while keeping your style consistent throughout a document.

For a related spelling comparison, consider linking internally to a post such as “toward vs towards”, which follows a similar regional pattern.