How to use "subsequently"

What Does "subsequently" Mean?

• Grammatical function: "Subsequently" is an adverb that expresses a temporal relationship. It indicates that one event happens after another in time (chronological order).
• Typical sentence position: It is highly versatile and can appear in the initial position (starting a sentence), medial position (between the subject and verb or after an auxiliary verb), or final position (at the end of a clause).
• Register: It is a formal to neutral term, commonly found in journalism, academic writing, legal documents, and professional reports.

How to Use It

• Syntactic patterns: It often functions as a conjunctive adverb. It can be used to link two independent clauses or as a simple adverb modifying a verb to show timing.
• Punctuation rules: When used at the beginning of a sentence, it is typically followed by a comma. In the middle of a sentence, it often requires no special punctuation unless it is being used parenthetically.
• Grammatical flexibility: It can easily start a sentence to provide a transition from a previous point. While it cannot be negated directly (e.g., "unsubsequently" is not a word), the action it modifies can be negated.
• What sounds unnatural or incorrect: Using "subsequently" in very casual conversation can sound overly stiff. Additionally, it should not be used when you mean "immediately after" if there was a significant delay, nor should it be used to imply that the first event caused the second.

Real-World Examples

These examples are sourced from subsequently on Ludwig.guru.

"Subsequently, Karimov tightened controls over political and economic life." — theguardian.com

"Andrew McAleer was granted a temporary protection order from Rice in January 2013, which was subsequently rescinded by a separate judge following a full hearing." — theguardian.com

"He subsequently persuaded Cranborne to back the Good Friday accord and canvass support for it among the unionist community." — theguardian.com

"Blair said the government had blocked BSkyB's purchase of Manchester United after referring it to the Office of Fair Trading, which subsequently referred it to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission." — theguardian.com

"Use one on first mention, but not subsequently, except for people under 18." — theguardian.com

Examples sourced from https://ludwig.guru/s/subsequently

Similar Phrases and Alternatives

Depending on the level of formality or the specific situation, you might want to vary your language.

Phrase	Context
afterward	More neutral and common in everyday storytelling.
later	The most common, less formal alternative for general use.
thereafter	Highly formal, often used in legal or technical contexts to mean "from that time on."
next	Simple and direct; best for instructions or short sequences.
consequently	Used specifically when the second event is a direct result of the first.
following this	A clear transitional phrase suitable for both speech and writing.

Common Mistakes

• Missing Punctuation: Forgetting to place a comma after "Subsequently" when it begins a sentence can disrupt the flow for the reader.
• Overuse in Casual Speech: Using this term in a text message or casual chat can make the speaker sound robotic or pretentious.
• Confusion with Causality: Learners often confuse it with 'consequently,' using it to denote a cause-and-effect relationship rather than a simple chronological order.

Quick-Reference Summary

Expression	Function	Register	Typical Position
subsequently	Temporal (Chronological Order)	Formal / Neutral	Initial, Medial, or Final

FAQs

Where in a sentence can subsequently appear?

The adverb subsequently is highly flexible and can occupy sentence-initial, mid-clause, or final positions. When used at the start of a sentence, it acts as a conjunctive adverb and usually requires a comma.

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How does subsequently differ from its closest alternative afterward?

While both terms indicate that an event happened later in time, subsequently is more formal and often implies a sequence within a structured narrative or report. Afterward is more common in informal speech and general storytelling, though they are often interchangeable in meaning.

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Can I use subsequently to show that one thing caused another?

No, you should avoid using it to imply a direct causal link. Learners often confuse it with consequently, using it to denote a cause-and-effect relationship rather than a simple chronological order.