Afterward and afterword might sound similar, but they are in fact completely different words. So, what do they each mean? And when should you use them? Today, we're looking at afterward vs. afterword and their usages in writing.
Afterward
Afterward is an adverb, and refers to an action that occurs sequentially after a previous action.
For example:
Leslie and Derek stuffed their faces with cream puffs, but felt sick immediately afterward.
It relates to the chronological order of what's happening.
Afterword
Afterword is a noun, and refers to the author notes at the end of a book.
An afterword is different from an epilogue, which allows for some additional closure at the end of the plot. Instead, the afterword is written by the author, from their perspective, about the work itself.
For example, J.K. Rowling wrote an epilogue at the end of her last Harry Potter book, but not an afterword.
In an afterword, the author might talk about their inspiration for the book, explanations, or their process writing it. This will be part of the concluding section of the book, and can be very interesting for readers.
Not all English is the Same…
What about afterwards, with an ‘s'?
While American English favors afterward, British English prefers afterwards. However, they both mean the same thing. Canadian English also tends to use afterward, but neither version is incorrect.
Afterward, she wrote an afterword…
Though they’re similar, it’s important not to mix up afterward and afterword, otherwise you might accidentally be talking about author notes when you really mean a future time.
Want more tips to keep track of tricky words? Check out our post on Forward vs. Foreword here.
PRACTICE
Take fifteen minutes and write an afterword to a favorite book, short story, or film, describing the effects of the plot's conclusion, and what happens to the characters afterward.
Share your practice in the Pro Practice Workshop, and take some time to read the prose of your fellow writers. Not a member yet? Join us here.
Happy writing!
Liz Bureman has a more-than-healthy interest in proper grammatical structure, accurate spelling, and the underappreciated semicolon. When she's not diagramming sentences and reading blogs about how terribly written the Twilight series is, she edits for the Write Practice, causes trouble in Denver, and plays guitar very slowly and poorly. You can follow her on Twitter (@epbure), where she tweets more about music of the mid-90s than writing.
Elizabeth Nettleton is an author and editor currently based in Oxfordshire, England. An avid reader and writer since childhood, she was once so engrossed in her book that she ran into a lamppost.
There is nothing Elizabeth loves more than magic and getting lost in other worlds (except for her family, friends, and pets, of course!), so she primarily writes fantasy, sci-fi, and horror. When she's not reading or writing, you can find her playing with her kids, daydreaming, or trying not to die in a video game.
You can learn more about Elizabeth's projects on her website, or say hello to her on X here.
Whenever I read the afterword, I get sad afterward because the book’s over.
Katie
Gone With the Wind:
The next day, Rhett realizes he just can’t leave Scarlett behind. He rushes back to their house and finds Scarlett preparing to go back to Tara. He and Scarlett beg each other for forgiveness and admit they have both been complete idiots. Scarlett of course insists she was the biggest idiot of all. Eventually, they have another child together named Melanie. They all spend the rest of their long glorious lives together and live happily ever after.
😉 Couldn’t help myself.
Well I’m glad someone figured out how to do that. I couldn’t think of any stories or books that everybody else would be familiar enough with that didn’t have a tied up ending.
Liz would havecavbetter life by abandoning nit-picking
thank you!!!!!