follow after

USAGE SUMMARY

"follow after" is correct and usable in written English.
It is usually used to mean "to come after something in time, place, or order". For example, "The spring flowers follow after the winter snow."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Mediate conceded that he had a tough act to follow after nearly winning at Torrey Pines last year.

The New York Times - Sports

Recommend people to follow after following someone.

TechCrunch

Hundreds more would follow after the attack on Pearl Harbor.

The New York Times - Science

Big improvements then follow after six months of regular exercise".

The Guardian - Lifestyle

A reception will follow after Mass in the parish center.

The New York Times

I checked an impulse to follow after them.

The New Yorker

Nationwide elections would follow after the Western forces left.

The New York Times

More theater experiences to follow, after my 100th.

The New York Times

Sainthood would follow after the confirmation of one more miracle.

The New York Times

If the job proved to be a good one, the family would follow after six months.

The New York Times

She was supposed to be one of the good, clean actresses for girls to follow after.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "follow after" to emphasize a direct sequence or consequence, particularly when describing events or actions that occur one after the other in a clear order.

Common error

Avoid using "follow after" when you mean "follow up". "Follow up" implies further action or investigation related to something previous, whereas "follow after" simply means to come next in sequence.

Linguistic Context

The phrasal verb "follow after" functions primarily as a sequential indicator, denoting that one event or entity comes after another. Ludwig provides numerous examples illustrating this usage, confirming its role in establishing temporal or logical order.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

58%

Science

27%

Wiki

9%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

1%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrasal verb "follow after" is a common and correct way to express that something comes next in a sequence. Ludwig's AI confirms its grammatical validity and widespread usage. It is most frequently found in news and media, science, and wiki content. While it is generally neutral, ensure that it is used to indicate a direct sequence, and not confused with "follow up", which means to take further action. The diverse examples from Ludwig highlight its utility in establishing temporal and logical order.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

come after

Focuses on the temporal sequence of events.

succeed

Implies taking over a position or role.

ensue

Highlights the immediate consequence of an action or event.

result from

Emphasizes the cause-and-effect relationship.

arise from

Suggests a natural development or consequence.

derive from

Indicates the origin or source of something.

stem from

Highlights the root cause of an issue.

postdate

Refers specifically to a later date.

supervene

Indicates an event that occurs unexpectedly or as an addition.

proceed from

Highlights the logical progression from one point to another.

FAQs

How to use "follow after" in a sentence?

You can use "follow after" to indicate a sequence in time or order. For example, "Nationwide elections would "follow after" the Western forces left."

What can I say instead of "follow after"?

You can use alternatives like "come after", "succeed", or "ensue" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "follow after" or "follow afterwards"?

"Follow after" is a phrasal verb that means to come next. "Follow afterwards" is less common and might sound awkward. It's generally better to use "follow after" or simply "follow".

What's the difference between "follow after" and "follow through"?

"Follow after" indicates a sequence, while "follow through" means to complete something that was started. They have different meanings and are not interchangeable.