The Difference Between Later and Latter

Have you ever been confused about when to use “later” and when to use “latter”? These two words may sound similar, but they have distinct meanings and uses. In this article, we will explore the differences between later and latter and provide examples of their correct usage. By the end, you’ll have a clear understanding of when to use each word. Let’s dive in!

What is Later?

“Later” is an adverb that refers to something happening at a time in the future, after the present moment or a specified time.

Examples of Later:

1. I will call you later today.
2. She finished her work and left later in the evening.

Uses of Later:

“Later” is commonly used to talk about events or actions that will occur after a certain point in time. It can also be used to refer to something mentioned earlier in a conversation or text.

What is Latter?

“Latter” is an adjective that refers to the second of two things or people mentioned.

Examples of Latter:

1. She likes both apples and oranges, but she prefers the latter.
2. In the experiment, Group A received the treatment, while Group B received the placebo. The latter showed no effect.

Uses of Latter:

“Latter” is used when comparing two items or ideas that have been mentioned before. It specifically refers to the second item or idea in the comparison.

Differences Table:

	Later	Latter
Difference Area	Definition and Usage	Definition and Usage
Part of speech	Adverb	Adjective
Meaning	Refers to something happening in the future	Refers to the second of two things/people
Usage	Used to talk about events/actions occurring after a certain point in time	Used when comparing two items/ideas, referring to the second one
Position in Sentence	Typically used before or after the verb	Used before the noun it modifies
Example 1	I will call you later today.	She likes apples and oranges, but she prefers the latter.
Example 2	She finished her work and left later in the evening.	The treatment had an effect on Group A, but not on the latter.
Related Words	Subsequently, afterward, afterwards	Second, last, final, following

Conclusion:

In summary, “later” is an adverb that refers to something happening at a future time, while “latter” is an adjective used to compare the second of two mentioned items or ideas. Remember to use “later” for time references and “latter” when comparing two things. This distinction will help you express yourself accurately in written and spoken English.

Knowledge Check:

1. Later refers to something happening at a future time. True or False?
2. Latter is used as an adjective to compare the second of two mentioned items or ideas. True or False?
3. Provide an example sentence with the word later.
4. Which word should be used to refer to the second item or idea in a comparison?
5. What part of speech is later?
6. What part of speech is latter?
7. Give a synonym for later.
8. Give a synonym for latter.
9. Use later in a sentence to refer to an action that will happen after a specific time.
10. Use latter in a sentence to refer to the second of two mentioned items or ideas.

Answers:

1. True
2. True
3. I will meet you later at the coffee shop.
4. Latter
5. Adverb
6. Adjective
7. Eventually
8. Second
9. I will finish the report later today.
10. He had the option to choose between two houses, but he selected the latter.

Related Topics:

• The Difference Between Then and Than
• Comparing Adverbs and Adjectives
• Choosing the Right Word: Later or Afterwards?