Word Confusion: Afterward(s) versus Afterword

Posted May 5, 2014 by Kathy Davie in Author Resources, Self-Editing, Word Confusions, Writing

Revised as of
8 July 2023

Pinterest pin for Afterward(s) versus Afterword

This is actually one of those minor word confusions. Minor because an afterword does occur afterwards, however the afterword sums things up or provides additional or new information while afterward explains where or when it appears.

Word Confusions . . .

. . . started as my way of dealing with a professional frustration with properly spelled words that were out of context in manuscripts I was editing as well as books I was reviewing. It evolved into a sharing of information with y’all. I’m hoping you’ll share with us words that have been a bête noire for you from either end.

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Afterward(s)	Afterword
Swear By Safety Before This Happens Not Afterwards is courtesy of the US National Archives and Records Administration and is in the public domain, via Picryl.	And in the afterword, we learn how the characters live on.
Part of Grammar:
Adverb Alternative spelling: afterward [US]	Noun Plural: afterwords
At a later or succeeding time Subsequently Thereafter After something has happened	A final section that comes after the main part of a book Epilogue A concluding section, commentary, etc., as of a book, treatise, or the like Closing statement
Examples:
He found out about it long afterward. Afterward, she got a promotion. The offender was arrested shortly afterwards.	The novel has a foreword by an eminent critic and an afterword by the author herself. The author included an afterword about developments in cancer treatment since the book was written. Nonfiction authors sometimes conclude their books with an afterword explaining what has happened since they did their research.
History of the Word:
Its first known use was before 1000. Old English æfterweard or æfteweard, from aft + ward.	Its first known use was in 1890. A Saxonist substitute for epilogue, which is from after + word.

Afterward(s)

Afterword

Swear By Safety Before This Happens Not Afterwards is courtesy of the US National Archives and Records Administration and is in the public domain, via Picryl.

Epilogue in a fancy script with a one-line sentence following as though this were the page in a book

And in the afterword, we learn how the characters live on.

Part of Grammar:

Adverb

Alternative spelling: afterward [US]

Noun

Plural: afterwords

At a later or succeeding time

Subsequently

Thereafter

After something has happened

A final section that comes after the main part of a book

Epilogue

A concluding section, commentary, etc., as of a book, treatise, or the like

Closing statement

Examples:

He found out about it long afterward.

Afterward, she got a promotion.

The offender was arrested shortly afterwards.

The novel has a foreword by an eminent critic and an afterword by the author herself.

The author included an afterword about developments in cancer treatment since the book was written.

Nonfiction authors sometimes conclude their books with an afterword explaining what has happened since they did their research.

History of the Word:

Its first known use was before 1000.

Old English æfterweard or æfteweard, from aft + ward.

Its first known use was in 1890.

A Saxonist substitute for epilogue, which is from after + word.

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C’mon, get it out of your system, bitch, whine, moan . . . which words are your pet peeves? Also, please note that I try to be as accurate as I can, but mistakes happen or I miss something. Email me if you find errors, so I can fix them . . . and we’ll all benefit!

Satisfy your curiosity about other Word Confusions on its homepage or more generally explore the index of self-editing posts. You may also want to explore Book Layout & Formatting Ideas, Formatting Tips, Grammar Explanations, Linguistics, Publishing Tips, the Properly Punctuated, Writing Ideas and Resources, and Working Your Website.

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