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Later and Latter

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Use later when referring to time. Use latter when referring to the second of two persons or things mentioned previously.

Examples:

  • Though Amy said that she would join me later, I never saw her again.

  • "There are two kinds of worries: those you can do something about and those you can't. Don't spend any time on the latter." (Duke Ellington)

Practice:

(a) "Were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers, or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the ______." (Thomas Jefferson)

(b) Merdine told Gus a joke, and two minutes ______ he began laughing.

Answers to Practice Exercises

Glossary of Usage: Index of Commonly Confused Words

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