Subsequently

Subsequently is an adverb used to indicate that something happens after a previously mentioned event or time. It serves as a transition marker in formal writing, signaling a sequence in time or order between clauses or sentences.

In usage, subsequently typically follows a semicolon or introduces a new clause, as in “The committee discussed the proposal; subsequently, they approved the plan.” It can also appear at the beginning of a sentence to connect to an earlier statement, for example, “The results were inconclusive. Subsequently, further testing was conducted.” The word is common in academic, legal, and professional writing, where precise sequencing is important. It is generally more formal and less common in casual speech.

Etymology and form: subsequently comes from Latin subsequenter, derived from subsequi “to follow after,” itself from subsequor “to follow.” The modern English form developed through Old and Middle French and Early Modern English, with the -ly suffix forming the adverb.

Distinctions: subsequently is the adverb form; the related adjective subsequent describes something that follows in time or order (e.g., “subsequent chapters”). Substantively, subsequently emphasizes the temporal or logical sequence of events rather than immediate causation, though it can carry a causal sense in context when the following event derives from the preceding one.

See also: subsequent, thereafter, afterward, conjoined adverbs. Notes: while precise, it remains a formal word and may feel stiff in everyday conversation; consider alternatives like afterward or later when a more casual tone is desired.