a sequel to

USAGE SUMMARY

"a sequel to" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to a book, movie, or other piece of work that continues a story that was begun in an earlier work. For example: "The movie 'Jurassic World' is a sequel to the 1993 film 'Jurassic Park'."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

A sequel to "Citizen Kane"?

The New York Times

Why not a sequel to "Die Zauberflöte"?

The New York Times - Books

Or what about a sequel to Ali?

The Guardian - Film

There is to be a sequel to Fight Club.

Independent

Anonymous Sounds like a sequel to "Monster-in-Law".

The New York Times

"It's like a sequel to a horror movie".

Independent

He began a second novel, a sequel to "Blueschild Baby".

The New York Times - Arts

Miller had spent years working on a sequel to "Canticle".

The New Yorker

Mr. Yergin is back with a sequel to "The Prize".

The New York Times - Books

Still, this is hardly a sequel to "Le Grand Macabre".

The New York Times - Arts

In 2016 he appeared in a sequel to Zoolander.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In academic writing, employ “a sequel to” to signal a follow-up study or research that builds directly on previous findings, creating a cohesive narrative of scholarly work.

Common error

Avoid using “a sequel to” when describing works that are only tangentially related or thematically similar. A sequel implies a direct continuation, not just inspiration or general resemblance.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a sequel to" functions as a prepositional phrase that modifies a noun, indicating that the noun is a continuation or follow-up of a previous work. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically sound and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

52%

Science

22%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a sequel to" is a common and grammatically correct way to describe a work that continues or follows up on a previous one. As Ludwig AI highlights, it’s widely used across various contexts, including news, science, and general knowledge. The phrase indicates a direct continuation of story, themes, and ideas. When writing, it's crucial to ensure that "a sequel to" is used only when there is a clear and direct relationship between the two works. Alternatives like "a follow up to" or "a continuation of" can be used to express similar concepts. With its frequent occurrence in diverse sources, mastering the correct usage of "a sequel to" can significantly enhance clarity and precision in both creative and academic writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a follow-up to

This phrase implies a direct continuation or extension of a previous work or event. It's semantically very close to the original phrase.

a continuation of

Focuses on the ongoing nature of the subject matter, stressing the lack of interruption from the original.

an extension of

Implies that the new work expands upon the original, adding more depth or detail.

a second installment of

Emphasizes the sequential nature, positioning the new work as part of a series.

a new chapter in

Suggests a shift or development within the same overarching story or theme.

the next iteration of

Highlights iterative improvement and development. More appropriate for technological or process-oriented contexts.

building upon

Focuses on the additive nature, where the new work expands or extends existing work.

arising from

This alternative implies that the new element emerges as a direct consequence or outcome of the original.

stemming from

Implies origin or derivation, suggesting the new work originates from the ideas, themes, or events in the original.

inspired by

Suggests that the original work served as a creative stimulus for the new piece, even if the latter deviates significantly.

FAQs

How do I use "a sequel to" in a sentence?

Use "a sequel to" to indicate that a book, film, game, or other creative work continues the story, characters, or themes of an earlier work. For example, "'The Two Towers' is "a sequel to" 'The Fellowship of the Ring'".

What can I say instead of "a sequel to"?

You can use alternatives like "a follow up to", "a continuation of", or "a second installment of depending on the context".

What is the difference between "a sequel to" and "inspired by"?

"A sequel to" indicates a direct continuation of a narrative or series. "Inspired by", on the other hand, means that a work drew ideas or themes from another source but is not necessarily a direct continuation.

Is it correct to use "a sequel to" for non-fiction works?

Yes, it's acceptable to use "a sequel to" for non-fiction works such as studies or research papers, if the new work directly builds upon or extends the findings of a previous work. For example, "This study is "a sequel to" our earlier research on the same topic".