downstream of

USAGE SUMMARY

'downstream of' is a correct and usable expression in written English.
You can use it to refer to something or someone that is located downstream from the reference point. For example, "The lake is located downstream of the dam."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"It's downstream of everything else.

The New Yorker

Vicinity (downstream) of the town of Gongling.

Harvard University

Widespread Inducible Transcription Downstream of Human Genes.

Yale University

My village is downstream of Anglo American's proposed Pebble mine.

The Guardian - Opinion

JunD transduces pro-survival signals downstream of JNK23.

Nature

b, Transposable elements up- and downstream of genes.

Nature

Are Plaques and Tangles Downstream of Mitochondria in Alzheimer's Disease?

Cornell University

I believe Andrew Breitbart said "politics is downstream of culture".

University of California, Berkeley

Cell differentiation was associated with activation of Smad2 downstream of TGF-β and of ERK/MAP kinase downstream of bFGF.

Princeton University

The people of your village relieve themselves downstream of where they wash their clothes, a place, in turn, downstream of where they drink.

The New Yorker

The same is true for Scottish, Lancashire and Yorkshire towns downstream of the Highlands and Pennines.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "downstream of" in a scientific context, ensure you're referring to a process or pathway where one event directly influences the next. Be precise about the relationship.

Common error

Avoid using "downstream of" solely for chronological order without a clear causal or directional relationship. While it can be used metaphorically, ensure the context is clear to prevent misinterpretation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "downstream of" functions primarily as a prepositional phrase. It connects a noun or pronoun to a location or event that follows in sequence, either literally in a river's course or metaphorically in a process or causal chain. Ludwig provides various examples illustrating this usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

47%

News & Media

29%

Academia

24%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the prepositional phrase "downstream of" is a grammatically correct and frequently used expression to denote a sequential or consequential relationship. As per Ludwig, it's suitable across different contexts, including science, news, and academia. Usage involves both literal (river flow) and metaphorical (process sequence) applications. Keep in mind to avoid confusing physical and abstract contexts. Alternatives such as "following" or "resulting from" can be used depending on the specific context and desired emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

following

This term is a more general way of indicating something that comes after a particular point, without the implication of a flow or sequence.

later than

This is a simple way of expressing that something occurs at a time after a specified point.

subsequent to

This phrase is more formal and emphasizes the chronological sequence of events, indicating that something happens after something else.

resulting from

This phrase highlights the cause-and-effect relationship, indicating that something is a consequence of a prior event.

in the wake of

This phrase indicates that something happens as a consequence or result of a preceding event, often with negative connotations.

posterior to

A more technical or formal way of saying "after", often used in scientific or academic contexts to denote temporal or logical sequence.

stemming from

This emphasizes the origin or cause of something, indicating that it originates or arises from a particular source or event.

deriving from

Similar to "stemming from", this suggests that something is obtained or developed from a specific source or cause.

on the heels of

This idiom suggests that something closely follows another event, often implying a direct connection or reaction.

emanating from

This phrase conveys that something originates and spreads outward from a particular source, often used in a more abstract or metaphorical sense.

FAQs

How can I use "downstream of" in a sentence?

You can use "downstream of" to describe a location that is further along a river's course, like "The town is "downstream of" the dam". It can also describe a step in a process that happens after a particular event, such as "This reaction occurs "downstream of" the initial enzyme activation".

What's the difference between "downstream of" and "upstream of"?

"Downstream of" refers to the direction in a river or a process that is further along the flow, while "upstream of" refers to the opposite direction, closer to the source or beginning.

What can I say instead of "downstream of"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "following", "subsequent to", or "resulting from" to convey a similar meaning. For example, instead of "The effects "downstream of" the policy change were significant", you could say "The effects resulting from the policy change were significant".

Is "downstream of" only used in a literal sense?

No, "downstream of" can be used both literally, to refer to locations along a river, and metaphorically, to describe a sequence of events where one action leads to another. For example, "The consequences are "downstream of" that decision" implies that the consequences arise as a result of that decision.