Before refers to something first in the order of two or more things. After that refers to something that is second in a group of two things or last in a group of things. Some usage guidelines state that these words can only be used in groups of two, but our definition—and the actual usage of the words—reflects otherwise.
We have our first and last words on this.
Meaning of ‘Before’ and ‘Later’
Many manuals, when dealing with words before And after that advises that if you must use these words, their use should be limited to two things and only two things. We determine the relevant meaning of after that is “of, relating to, or being the second of two groups or things or the last of several groups or things mentioned” and before is “first in order of two or more things quoted or understood.” Please note that although each of these definitions uses the word two We allow the possibility that each of these words may refer to a number greater than two.
Exceptions to the Rule
‘But the rules are neat and simple!’ someone out there is screaming, in between tearing clothes and grinding teeth; ‘why can’t you say that before is the first of two and after thatis the second of two?’ Well, we could say so, but it wouldn’t be very honest, since this is not how people use these words. We don’t make language rules (and neither should you, the angry person reading this); We simply do our best to describe exactly how the words are used. And while before And after that often used to refer to groups of two things, there are many cases where they are applied to larger numbers.
…there are three types of rookies:…The first of these probably joins with the ultimate goal of being captain.— Literary magazine TimesDecember 30, 1949
…although her directory includes Hecht, Snyder, and Daiches, she omits their names.— DeLancey Ferguson, Modern language notesFebruary 1957
The goldfish, I should explain, is a recurring presence in this hyperactive sugar-laden picture, alongside two understandably confused-looking actors in the television teen drama. American Beverly Hills 90210 and clips from John Frankenheimer’s 1962 film The Manchurian Candidate. Of these three, only the latter makes sense.— Matthew Bond, mail on sunday (London, England), October 16, 2005
An important point we should make here is our notes that people often use before And after that involving part of a group larger than two is not the same as we encourage you to replicate this use. You can use before to point out the first of the three, and we won’t downvote you for this, but others can, and you should be aware that many manuals are not satisfied with such use .
There are other words one can use in such settings such as Firstly or Final (or last name). In fact, some guides go so far as to recommend avoiding before And after that outright, on the grounds that words may unnecessarily capture the attention of the opposite reader and in doing so impede reading fluency. You should remember that before And after that acts as a convenience to the writer and can be a nuisance to the reader unless handled with care. In some cases, you will be better served by repeating the word or phrase before or after that replaceable.
Categories: Usage Notes
Source: vothisaucamau.edu.vn
