Following

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "Following" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something is coming next or to refer to information that will be presented subsequently. Example: "Following the meeting, we will send out the minutes to all participants."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Following three months of fruitless talks to reach a cash-for-reform deal with creditors, public finances have never been worse.

The Guardian

A spokesperson for QUB's communications office said on Friday: "Following the completion of a comprehensive risk assessment, undertaken in line with approved protocols, the university is pleased to confirm that the Charlie Hebdo Research Symposium, organised by the Institute for Collaborative Research in the Humanities, has been approved".

The Guardian

Following the 1979 Revolution and end of the Iran-Iraq War in 1988, the vision was carried forward despite tight economic sanctions.

The Guardian

Following an earthquake in 2005, the houses were rebuilt with cement and air-conditioning.

The Guardian

mrvikkis.co.uk KF Following on from René Redzepi taking the Noma team to Tokyo's Mandarin Oriental for a busman's holiday, another cutting-edge Scandinavian chef, Magnus Nilsson of Fäviken, has decided to close his restaurant, Fäviken, in Järpen, Sweden, for 20 weeks a year.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Following the summer's riots, they may have had better things to do than leaf through photographs of Lib Dem activists to make sure their mouths are closed.

The Guardian - Opinion

Following Cable's protests, the ONS statistics director general, Glen Watson, defended the wording, saying in November "referencing a target that users and the media follow closely does not impact on ONS neutrality".

The Guardian

The White House has distanced itself from Britain's handling of the leaked NSA documents when representatives said it would be difficult to imagine the US authorities following the example of Whitehall in demanding the destruction of media hard drives.

The Guardian

"East Coast is particularly sorry, too, for the inconvenience to its customers as a result on what we know is an already very busy travel day immediately following the Christmas break.

The Guardian - Business

They married the following year.

The Guardian - Business

The Guardian, which was first published in 1821, is most recently renowned for its agenda-setting NSA and GCHQ revelations following disclosures by whistleblower Edward Snowden, its globally acclaimed investigation into phone hacking and the launch of its groundbreaking digital-first strategy in 2011 and its trailblazing partnership with WikiLeaks in 2010.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the level of formality required. "Following" is generally suitable for formal and neutral contexts. For very informal settings, alternatives like "after" might be more appropriate.

Common error

Avoid using "Following" as a verb when you mean "to follow". It's a common mistake to write "Following this advice, you will succeed" instead of "By following this advice, you will succeed."

Linguistic Context

The word "Following" primarily functions as a preposition or adjective. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's used to indicate sequence or consequence, often introducing a clause that comes after a specific event or action. The examples show its versatility in various sentence structures.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

30%

Science

20%

Less common in

Reference

0%

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "Following" is a versatile term primarily used as a preposition or adjective to indicate sequence or consequence. Ludwig AI highlights its frequent use in contexts like news and media and formal business settings. While grammatically correct and very common, as Ludwig AI confirms, it's important to consider the level of formality and avoid common errors such as incorrect verb usage. Understanding its nuances allows for more precise and effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

After

Indicates a time sequence, similar to "Following", but is a more general preposition.

Subsequent to

More formal and emphasizes the temporal succession of events.

In the wake of

Implies a direct consequence or result of a previous event.

Resulting from

Highlights the outcome or effect of a prior action or event.

As a result of

Focuses on the cause-and-effect relationship between events.

On the heels of

Indicates that something happens very soon after something else.

Pursuant to

Used in legal or formal contexts to indicate compliance or accordance.

Stemming from

Implies that something originates or arises from a particular source or cause.

In accordance with

Emphasizes compliance with rules, regulations, or agreements.

Because of

States a direct cause for an event or situation.

FAQs

How can I use "Following" in a sentence?

"Following" can be used as a preposition to indicate something that happens after something else. For example, "Following the meeting, we will discuss the next steps."

What are some alternatives to "Following"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "after", "subsequent to", or "in the wake of".

Is it correct to say "Following that"?

While grammatically acceptable, "Following that" can sound awkward. Consider rephrasing to "After that" or "Subsequently" for better flow.

What's the difference between "Following" and "After"?

"Following" and "After" are often interchangeable, but "Following" can sometimes imply a more direct or logical consequence, while "After" is more general in its temporal meaning.