Afterward vs. Afterword How to Choose the Right Word

The words afterward and afterword are homophones (or near homophones): They sound alike but are spelled differently and have different meanings. In fact, the two words have little in common, although another pair of related terms, afterward and afterwards, mean exactly the same thing. How to Use Afterward The adverb afterward or afterwards is interchangeable with the words after and later. Afterward means at a subsequent or later time and usually relates to events that occur relatively close together. Typically, afterward is used to refer to events that occur one right after the other. For example, Jane went to church and then attended the coffee hour held afterward. It is sometimes used to refer to events that are widely separated in time as well. For example, Mary was born in 1910 and had her three children long afterward. How to Use Afterword The noun afterword is another word for epilogue, the concluding section of a text. The afterword is typically written by the author of a book, play, or other significant work and at one point in the past, was referred to as the authors notes. The afterword may offer the author an opportunity to reflect on the work or acknowledge others whose support was important in the writing of the work. Often, an afterword is added to later printings of a book that has been updated or about which critics have been particularly positive or negative. Its an opportunity for the author to respond to criticism or add insights. Examples Because they have such different meanings, its important to differentiate correctly between afterward and afterword. In the sentence We enjoyed a large dinner and afterward had coffee and a gooey dessert, the term afterward is used to place events in chronological order: First, we ate dinner, and then later we ate dessert.In the sentence Its not the election itself but what happens afterwards that concerns me, the term afterwards refers to timing: First the election will occur and then, sometime later, we will have to cope with the results.In the sentence In a thoughtful afterword, the author described her writing process and acknowledged the difficulty she encountered with such a difficult topic, the word afterword refers to a short essay that might otherwise be described as author notes. How to Remember the Difference The easiest way to distinguish between afterward and afterword is to remember that afterword includes the word word. Thus an afterword is a final word from the author. Usage Note Theres no difference in meaning between afterward and afterwards. In American English, afterward is more common, whereas in British English  and Canadian English, afterwards is more common. Louise and Jane had dinner and went to the theater afterward.They had a wonderful time at the party but could hardly remember it afterward.The fans were impressed by the performers first song but were less delighted by the songs she sang afterwards. Sources â€Å"Afterward vs. Afterword.†Ã‚  Grammarist.â€Å"Afterward vs. Afterword.†Ã‚  The Write Practice, 17 July 2012.