follow a procedure

USAGE SUMMARY

'follow a procedure' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to instructions or guidelines for completing a task. For example, "You must follow the procedure outlined in the company policy manual if you need to take time off from work."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

The trusted contact can then follow a procedure to gain access to the account.

The Economist

The S.E.C.'s willingness to follow a procedure similar to obtaining a warrant as a prerequisite to obtaining emails would make it more difficult to obtain evidence because issuing an administrative subpoena involves no judicial review.

The New York Times

A spokesperson for Mears said: "Whilst we cannot comment on individual cases to protect tenants' privacy, Mears takes the needs of vulnerable tenants very seriously and we follow a procedure for rent arrears as agreed with Newham council.

The Guardian

To estimate receipt of degrees outside the United States, we will follow a procedure similar to that of Zeng and Xie (2004), who based estimates on age of entry into the United States.

Princeton University

We follow a procedure similar to that of [27] to align the images.

EURASIP Journal on Image and Video Processing

We follow a procedure similar to Lemma 6.40 inFöllmer and Schied (2011) to prove (32).

Probability, Uncertainty and Quantitative Risk

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

I would get very bored if I followed a procedure.

The Guardian - Arts

"We followed a procedure that we do, known as a defensive briefing.

The Washington Post

Slice preparation from human brain tissue followed a procedure that was developed in our lab34,35,36,37,58,59.

Nature

"Fundamentally this is a process that has failed because a police officer has not followed a procedure," Oliver told Guardian Australia.

The Guardian

"Following a procedure, your surgeon should be available to you 24 hours a day in case you have any concerns," Marcellino adds.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "follow a procedure", ensure that the specific procedure is clearly defined or referenced so the reader understands what steps are involved.

Common error

Avoid using "follow a procedure" without specifying which procedure you're referring to, as this can lead to confusion. Always provide enough context or detail about the procedure.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "follow a procedure" functions as a verb phrase, where "follow" is the main verb and "a procedure" is its object. It indicates the action of adhering to a specific set of steps or instructions.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

35%

News & Media

35%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "follow a procedure" is a grammatically correct and usable verb phrase that describes the act of adhering to a specific set of steps. As Ludwig AI states, this phrase is appropriate for referring to instructions or guidelines for completing a task. It is most frequently found in scientific, news, and academic contexts and carries a neutral to professional register. While the phrase itself is straightforward, remember to specify the exact procedure to avoid vagueness and ensure clear communication. Alternative phrases, such as "adhere to protocol", may be used to vary your language depending on the desired level of formality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

adhere to protocol

Emphasizes strict compliance with established guidelines.

comply with guidelines

Focuses on meeting the requirements set forth in official instructions.

observe regulations

Highlights the act of conforming to specific rules and regulations.

stick to the plan

Indicates a commitment to maintaining a predefined course of action.

act according to instructions

Stresses the importance of performing actions as directed.

execute the process

Focuses on carrying out a defined series of actions.

implement the steps

Highlights the practical application of specific actions in a sequence.

conform to standards

Emphasizes alignment with established benchmarks or criteria.

maintain compliance

Stresses the continuous effort to adhere to rules and regulations.

toe the line

Informal way of saying to obey rules or authority.

FAQs

How can I use "follow a procedure" in a sentence?

You can use "follow a procedure" when you want to say that someone is adhering to a specific set of steps or guidelines. For instance, "All employees must follow a procedure when handling customer complaints".

What is a more formal alternative to "follow a procedure"?

For a more formal tone, you might use phrases like "adhere to protocol" or "comply with guidelines" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "follow a procedure" or "implement a procedure"?

The choice depends on the context. "Follow a procedure" means to adhere to established steps, while "implement a procedure" means to put a procedure into effect.

What does it mean to "follow a procedure"?

To "follow a procedure" means to perform a task by adhering to a specific set of steps or guidelines that have been established beforehand. It ensures consistency and standardization.