What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
hereafter
Example
Hereafter, we will need to be more careful with our spending. [hereafter: adverb]
Example
The company has decided to implement new policies hereafter. [hereafter: noun]
afterward
Example
We went to the movies and afterward had dinner at a restaurant. [afterward: adverb]
Example
The team lost the game, but they learned from their mistakes afterward. [afterward: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Afterward is more commonly used than hereafter in everyday language. Afterward is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while hereafter is less common and tends to be used in more formal or literary contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between hereafter and afterward?
Hereafter is typically associated with a more formal tone, while afterward can be used in both formal and informal contexts.