26+ Other Ways to Say “and Then” (with 90+ Examples)

During the time you are writing or talking, you really want to keep things moving. Nobody likes a story or explanation that just stops and starts awkwardly. That's where knowing different ways to link your ideas comes in handy. I want to help you spice up your sentences and make your stories flow better. Let's check out some super cool ways to connect your thoughts.

Other Ways to Say “and Then” for Everyday Chats

Next

Sometimes you just need to say what happens right after. This word is super quick and easy. It fits perfectly when you're telling a simple story or giving clear steps. It keeps things moving without making you think too hard. It's great for casual talks with friends.

• I woke up and then brushed my teeth.
• Next, I made some toast for breakfast.
• After that, I put on my shoes.
• Next, I headed out the door.

Following This

This phrase makes it clear that something comes directly after what you just mentioned. It sounds a little more thoughtful than just next. It works well when you want to show a direct cause and effect or a sequence of events. It feels good in stories or when explaining a process.

• She finished her homework.
• Following this, she called her friend to chat.
• The rain started pouring hard.
• Following this, we decided to stay inside.

Subsequently

This word sounds a bit more formal, but you can still use it in everyday chats. It's good when you are talking about things that happened a little later, not necessarily right away. It's useful for showing a chain of events that might have taken some time. It adds a touch of seriousness.

• He studied hard for the test.
• Subsequently, he got an A in the class.
• The company launched a new product.
• Subsequently, their sales went up.

After That

This is one of the most common ways to link two things. It's really easy to understand. You use it when one event happens after another one. It fits almost any situation, whether you're telling a quick story or explaining a recipe. It's like a comfortable old friend.

• I ate my lunch.
• After that, I took a short nap.
• He finished reading the book.
• After that, he started another one.

At That Point

This phrase is great for showing a turning point or a specific moment in time. It suggests that something important happened or a decision was made. It's effective for building a little drama or highlighting a change in what was happening. It works well in stories and explanations.

• We had been walking for hours.
• At that point, we decided to rest.
• The situation was getting complicated.
• At that point, we needed a new plan.

Right After

This makes it super clear that something happened immediately following the previous thing. It emphasizes speed. It's perfect when you want to show that two actions were very close together in time. It's lively and keeps the energy up in your sentences.

• The bell rang.
• Right after, the students rushed out.
• She heard the news.
• Right after, she felt a huge relief.

The Next Thing You Know

This phrase adds a bit of surprise or a sense of quick passage of time. It's often used to jump from one point to another without explaining every little step. It's fun for telling stories that move fast or when things changed quickly without you realizing it.

• I was just looking at the menu.
• The next thing you know, I had ordered a huge meal.
• We started hiking up the mountain.
• The next thing you know, we were at the top.

Then Afterwards

This is a bit of a double-up, but it works! It emphasizes that something happened later. It's like saying and then, and then again later. It's good for when you're listing several things and want to make sure the last few things feel like they happened a bit further down the line.

• First, we went to the store.
• Then, we went to the park.
• Then afterwards, we went home.
• He finished his work early.
• Then afterwards, he went to the gym.

Other Ways to Say “and Then” for Telling Stories

Shortly After

This sounds a bit more polished than just saying next. It means that something happened not too long after the first thing. It's good for showing a connection that isn't instant but still pretty close. It works well in narratives where you want to keep the pace steady.

• The movie ended.
• Shortly after, the lights came back on.
• He sent the email.
• Shortly after, he got a reply.

In the Wake Of

This phrase usually means something happened as a result of a previous event, often a significant one. It suggests that the first thing had a big impact. It's a more dramatic way to show a sequence. It's best for serious stories or discussing big changes.

• The storm passed through.
• In the wake of the storm, there was a lot of cleanup.
• The company announced layoffs.
• In the wake of this, many employees looked for new jobs.

From There

This is a casual way to show progression. It means okay, after that thing happened, this is what we did or what happened next. It's great for talking about a journey, a process, or a series of events where you're moving from one stage to the next.

• We got off the bus.
• From there, we walked to the hotel.
• I finished the first chapter.
• From there, I decided to read another one.

Following That

This is a clear and straightforward way to connect two ideas. It shows that one thing came after another. It's useful when you're explaining steps or telling a story and want to be very clear about the order of events. It's a solid choice for many situations.

• She completed the training program.
• Following that, she got a promotion.
• The team won the first game.
• Following that, their confidence grew.

What Happened Next Was

This phrase builds a little suspense. It signals that something interesting or important is about to be told. It's a great storytelling tool. It makes the listener lean in and want to hear what happens. It's perfect for adding a bit of flair to your narrative.

• We explored the old castle.
• What happened next was truly surprising.
• He finally opened the mysterious box.
• What happened next changed everything.

Successively

This word means one after another, in order. It's a bit more formal. You'd use it when you have a list of things happening in a specific order, and you want to emphasize that order. It's good for reporting or explaining a series of actions that happened one by one.

• The chefs added the ingredients one by one.
• Successively, they mixed them all together.
• The runners crossed the finish line.
• Successively, their times were recorded.

And So

This is a common way to show a result or a continuation. It suggests that because of what happened before, this next thing happens. It's friendly and easy to use. It can link simple events or show a logical next step in a conversation or story.

• He was really tired.
• And so, he went to bed early.
• The weather forecast was bad.
• And so, the picnic was canceled.

Other Ways to Say “and Then” for More Formal Writing

Thereafter

This word means after that time or event. It sounds quite formal. You might see it in legal documents or historical accounts. It's used to show that something happened at a later point in time, often after a significant event you just mentioned.

• The treaty was signed.
• Thereafter, peace was restored to the region.
• She received her degree.
• Thereafter, she began her career in medicine.

Following This Event

This phrase is very clear and direct. It points to a specific thing that happened and shows that the next thing came after it. It's useful when you need to be precise about the sequence of events, especially in reports or formal explanations. It avoids any confusion.

• The conference concluded.
• Following this event, participants shared their notes.
• A major policy change was announced.
• Following this event, the public reacted strongly.

Subsequently to That

This is similar to subsequently but with a bit more emphasis on the direct follow-up. It clearly states that what comes next is a result or happens after what was just discussed. It's good for showing a progression in a more structured way.

• The research yielded its first results.
• Subsequently to that, further studies were planned.
• The company faced financial difficulties.
• Subsequently to that, they had to restructure.

In Continuation

This phrase means that something happens as a continued part of what was already happening. It suggests that the next action flows naturally from the previous one. It's useful when describing ongoing processes or developments. It keeps the momentum going.

• The team worked tirelessly on the project.
• In continuation, they presented their findings.
• The discussion was lively.
• In continuation, further questions were raised.

Then Came

This sounds a bit dramatic and is often used in storytelling or historical writing. It suggests that the next thing was significant or marked a new phase. It's effective for making the reader pause and focus on what happened next. It adds a sense of importance.

• The war finally ended.
• Then came a period of rebuilding.
• She faced her biggest challenge.
• Then came the moment of truth.

As a Consequence

This phrase directly links the next event to the previous one as a result. It emphasizes that what happens is a direct outcome. It's very clear and logical. It's good for explaining cause and effect or showing the results of actions or situations.

• The company made a major mistake.
• As a consequence, they lost many customers.
• He didn’t study for the exam.
• As a consequence, he failed the class.

Following the Preceding

This is a very formal way to say that something happened after what was just mentioned. It's quite wordy. You'd probably only see it in very formal reports or academic papers. It leaves no doubt about the sequence.

• The first phase was completed successfully.
• Following the preceding, the next phase began.
• The initial data was collected.
• Following the preceding, analysis started.

At a Later Stage

This implies that some time has passed since the first event. It suggests a break or a gap before the next thing happens. It's useful when you want to show that events didn't happen immediately one after another but are still part of a larger sequence.

• The initial plan was approved.
• At a later stage, adjustments were made.
• They finished the first part of the project.
• At a later stage, they started the final part.

And Subsequently

This combines two linking ideas. It says 'and' to connect, and then 'subsequently' to show it happened later. It's a way to add a bit more formality to a sequence. It works well when you want to show a progression that isn't instant.

• The report was submitted.
• And subsequently, the review process began.
• They signed the contract.
• And subsequently, the work commenced.

Upon Completion Of

This phrase clearly indicates that an action will happen only after another action is fully finished. It sets a clear condition. It's very direct and useful for processes, projects, or any situation where order and completion are important.

• Upon completion of the building, new tenants moved in.
• Upon completion of the meal, we discussed the movie.
• Upon completion of the setup, the system was ready.

Other Ways to Say “and Then” for Quick Transitions

Then What

This is a very informal and conversational way to ask or state what comes next. It's like a quick nudge forward. You might use it when you're telling a story and want to keep the pace going or ask a friend what happened. It's playful.

• I saw the strange light in the sky.
• Then what?
• We got to the park.
• Then what?

Later On

This is a relaxed way to say something happened after a while. It's casual and friendly. It's great for when you're talking about plans or events that aren't happening immediately. It implies a bit of time passing between the first thing and the second.

• I'll finish this task today.
• Later on, I'll call you.
• We had dinner.
• Later on, we watched a movie.

Once That Was Done

This phrase shows that the first task needed to be finished before the next could start. It's very clear about the sequence. It's useful for explaining how things get done, step by step. It's straightforward and easy to understand.

• Once that was done, we moved to the next phase.
• Once that was done, he felt much better.
• Once that was done, the results were obvious.

Having Done That

This is similar to once that was done, but it focuses more on the person or thing performing the action. It means that after a certain action was completed, the next thing followed. It's good for showing a cause and effect driven by an action.

• Having done that, she felt a sense of accomplishment.
• Having done that, they started planning the party.
• Having done that, he could finally relax.

After Which

This is a more formal connector that means after the thing just mentioned. It's often used in writing to link clauses or sentences smoothly. It's a bit more sophisticated than simply saying after that. It helps to keep the flow in longer sentences.

• They discussed the proposal.
• After which, they decided to move forward.
• The system was installed.
• After which, extensive testing was performed.

And Following That

This is a clear and direct way to link two events in sequence. It means that after the first event, the second one occurred. It's useful when you need to show a clear progression in a story or an explanation. It's easy for anyone to understand.

• And following that, the crowd cheered.
• And following that, the results were announced.
• And following that, they celebrated their victory.

Summary of Phrases for Linking Ideas

Final Thoughts

Using different phrases to connect your ideas makes your talking and writing much more interesting. It helps people follow along better. I hope you try out some of these new ways to say and then. It will make your stories and explanations sound so much cooler!