What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
whereupon
Example
The judge ruled in favor of the plaintiff, whereupon the defendant filed an appeal. [whereupon: conjunction]
Example
The company announced a merger, whereupon its stock prices soared. [whereupon: adverb]
thereafter
Example
The company experienced a decline in profits in the first quarter, but thereafter implemented cost-cutting measures. [thereafter: adverb]
Example
The contract was signed on Monday, and thereafter became legally binding. [thereafter: adverb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Thereafter is more commonly used than whereupon in everyday language. Thereafter is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while whereupon is less common and typically used in formal or legal contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between whereupon and thereafter?
Whereupon is more formal than thereafter. It is often used in legal or formal writing, while thereafter can be used in both formal and informal contexts.