Afterward - afterword

Don't confuse the two words afterward and afterword, either by typographical error or by bad spelling. There is only one letter difference between them, and their pronunciations are virtually homophones.

• The adverb afterward, an American English form of the usual British afterwards, means 'at a later time'. For more, see Afterward - afterwards.
• The noun 'an afterword' means
  • originally 'a word, or passage of words, spoken or written after others'; 'a postscript', akin to an afterthought.
  • now usually 'a section of writing placed at the end of a book [after the end of the events in a narrative text, or after the conclusion of a ratiocinative piece, etc.]' It is similar in meaning (and in form) to foreword, which has a similar potential confusion (see Foreword - forward). An afterword may be written by the author of the main (original) text or by a separate editor or commentator, etc.