What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
thereafter
Example
The company went bankrupt, and thereafter, the employees lost their jobs. [thereafter: adverb]
Example
He graduated from college and thereafter started his own business. [thereafter: adverb]
subsequently
Example
She missed her flight and subsequently had to book another one. [subsequently: adverb]
Example
The team lost the game, and subsequently, they were eliminated from the tournament. [subsequently: adverb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Subsequently is more commonly used than thereafter in everyday language. Subsequently is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while thereafter is less common and typically used in more formal writing.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between thereafter and subsequently?
Thereafter is typically associated with a more formal tone, while subsequently can be used in both formal and informal contexts.