Cool MateAfter all vs After everything
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
After all
Top 5,000 (fairly common)
After everything
Top 2,000 (common)
Most common: After everything
| After all | After everything | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //ˈɑːftə rɔːl//🇺🇸 //ˈæftər ɔl// | 🇬🇧 //ˈɑːftə ˈɛvriθɪŋ//🇺🇸 //ˈæftər ˈɛvriθɪŋ// |
| Meaning | In the end; considering everything. | After all that has happened |
| Example | We decided to go hiking, and, **after all**, it turned out to be a great decision. | After everything, I’m still grateful for the experience. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 5,000 (fairly common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| Collocations | meet after all, say after all, think after all | after everything that's happened, after everything we've done, after everything you said, reflect on everything, consider everything carefully |
| Common mistakes | Using 'after all' at the beginning of a sentence when a conclusion hasn't been established., Confusing with 'after all that' which is more specific., Overusing in formal writing; it's more casual. | Using 'after everything' without a following clause., Confusing it with 'after all' which has a slightly different meaning., Misplacing it in a sentence, making it unclear. |
| Usage notes | Use 'after all' to emphasize a conclusion or reason, often after thinking or discussing something. It's generally suitable for both spoken and written language, but may sound casual in very formal contexts. | Used to refer to a conclusion or result after considering prior events. Suitable in both spoken and written contexts, but may feel conversational in moments of reflection. |
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Frequently asked questions: After all vs After everything
What's the difference between After all and After everything?
After all: In the end; considering everything. After everything: After all that has happened
Which is more common: After all and After everything?
After everything is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
After all: We decided to go hiking, and, **after all**, it turned out to be a great decision. After everything: After everything, I’m still grateful for the experience.
Can I use After all and After everything interchangeably?
Not always. After all and After everything are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.