Later vs Latter | Difference, Meaning & Use
Latter means “near the end” (of a period, or part of something) or refers back to the last item in a series or list, while later means “at a future time” or “more late than.”
- Latter can function as an adjective (e.g., “During the latter stages of his career”) or a noun (e.g., “I prefer the latter of the two options”)
- Later can function as an adverb of time (e.g., “Let’s meet later to discuss it”) or a comparative adjective (e.g., “I’d prefer a later appointment please”).
| Later in a sentence | Latter in a sentence |
|---|---|
| I asked her about it years later, but she had forgotten. | This began to change in the latter half of the century. |
| The parcel arrived later than they promised. | Health or wealth? Well, the former depends to a great extent on the latter. |
| Opera became his main focus during his later years. | There had always been ups and downs, but the latter were now becoming much more frequent. |
The first syllable of “latter” [latt-er] rhymes with “hat,” but the first syllable of “later” [lat-er] rhymes with “hate.”
Later or latter
Later and latter can be very close in meaning when used to describe a late/final part or period of something. But when the writer or speaker uses the comparative adjective “later”, there is often an (implied) aspect of contrast with an earlier period or stage.
| Later (comparison/contrast with earlier) | Latter (late stage/period) |
|---|---|
| He was known for his adventurous, nomadic lifestyle. But now in his later years, his priorities have changed. [Contrast with his earlier years] | His priorities changed in the latter years of his life. |
| She started the race brightly but began falling behind in the later stages. [Contrast with the earlier stages of the race] | She gained a lot of ground and almost overtook her rival in the latter stages of the race. |
The latter
The latter refers back to the last of two or more things that have just been mentioned (i.e., it means “the second one” or “the last one”).
Neither the former nor the latter of those two options are particularly appealing.
To avoid confusion, some style guides recommend only using the latter to refer to the second of two items and suggest the alternative “the last” if three or more items have been mentioned.
Opposite of latter
Former and latter are opposites when used to refer to the first or last items in a series or list, respectively (e.g., “If I had to choose between the two, I think I’d prefer the former to the latter”).
However, the opposite of latter when it is used to refer to a late period or closing stage of something depends on the context. Antonyms for this use of “latter” include “early,” “preliminary,” “initial,” and “first.”
| Latter meaning late stage or period | Opposite |
|---|---|
| In the latter years of her life. | In the early years of her life. |
| In the latter stages of the process. | In the preliminary/initial stages of the process. |
| In the latter half of the century. | In the first half of the century. |
Sooner or later
Sooner or later is an adverbial phrase that means “at some point in the future.” It is used in informal contexts to express that you think something will definitely happen, but it could take a long time. It is often synonymous with “eventually.”
Person A: Are you ever going to fix this motorbike?
Person B: Yeah, I’ll get to it sooner or later.
Frequently asked questions about later vs latter
- Is later a preposition?
-
No, later is not a preposition.
“Later” functions as an adverb of time (e.g., “I will do it later”) and a comparative adjective (e.g., “Can we start the meeting a bit later tomorrow?”).
Be careful not to confuse later and latter. “Latter” means “toward the end” of a period or segment of something (e.g., “The product is in the latter stages of development) or refers back to the second/last thing in a list (e.g., “Of the two options, the latter makes much more sense”).
Use QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker to help you use commonly confused words such as “later” and “latter” correctly in your writing.
- What is the meaning of latter half?
-
The latter half means “the second half” of something, especially a period of time (e.g., “His work enjoyed a revival during the latter half of the 19th century”).
We don’t generally say “later half” to refer to the second half of something (later and latter are commonly confused words).
Looking for another way of expressing “latter half”? Why not try out QuillBot’s free Paraphraser?
- How do you use latter in a sentence?
-
You can use latter in a sentence as a noun to refer back to the second of two things or the last thing in a list (e.g. “Neither the former nor the latter of the two options were acceptable”).
It also functions as an adjective meaning “near the end” of a period or part of something (e.g., “The problem occurs during the latter stages of the process).
Be careful not to confuse later and latter because you can’t use them interchangeably.
Why not check that you’re using “latter” correctly in your sentence with QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker?
