Afterward vs. Afterwards — What's the Difference?

Distinguishing the two in a technical or formal context might present as: “The procedure will be conducted, and afterward, an evaluation will occur.” This conveys a structured chronology of events. Simultaneously, a sentence like, “The experiment will be initiated, and afterwards, data will be collected,” doesn’t disrupt or alter the intended conveyance of sequence, affirming the words as practically synonymous.

Delineating "Afterward" and "Afterwards," these terms predominantly share meaning but exhibit a slight geographical preference in usage. "Afterward" often finds more usage in American English, serving to indicate a period or event that follows another. On the other hand, "Afterwards" gravitates more towards British English, while equally signifying a time or event subsequent to another, revealing that the distinction is minor and mostly regional.

In practice, one might say, “We went to dinner, and afterward, we saw a movie.” This implies that the act of seeing the movie occurred subsequent to dining. Similarly, one might assert, “We had lunch, and afterwards, we went for a walk,” denoting that the walk followed the meal, further establishing that the practical usage of "Afterward" and "Afterwards" is nearly identical.

In everyday conversation, "Afterward" might find application such as: “We will discuss the plan, and afterward, decide on action.” This reveals a scheduled sequentiality, wherein discussion precedes decision. Conversely, "Afterwards" can be conversely integrated, like: “He will present his case, and afterwards, she will present hers,” also representing a planned sequence of events, and thereby showcasing the words' functional interchangeability.

Applying "Afterward" in a literary context, an author might write, “The kingdom fell, and afterward, chaos reigned.” This usage underscores a chronological progression, where chaos follows the fall of the kingdom. Alternatively, employing "Afterwards" in literature, it could be written, “The hero died, and afterwards, the land mourned,” again highlighting a sequential order of events without a marked divergence in meaning or usage between the two words.