follow down that path

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "follow down that path" is not correct in standard English; it should be "follow that path." You can use it when advising someone to pursue a particular course of action or decision.
Example: "If you want to achieve your goals, you should follow that path of continuous learning and self-improvement."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

"That purpose is to try and create a semblance of unity in a party that is deeply divided on the question of the European Union and at the same time to convince voters tempted by UKIP not to follow down that path".

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

But we must heed the warnings or we will follow down that same murky path.

The Guardian

So the fact that we share this passion, we share this kind of delusion and craziness, the little dash of delusion that it takes to follow down this path, it really is an adventure.

Huffington Post

Uclue seems doomed to follow down GA's path, while other services like Ether and Bitwine have at least differentiated themselves by enabling pay-per-call consulting.

TechCrunch

And one day, if I can create my own "Jurassic Park" - the music that inspires a future composer to take up the craft and follow down this very wonderful path - then I'll consider my life and career well fulfilled".

Huffington Post

And we might well be better off if female-centric comedies (as in other areas of life) didn't follow down the guys' foolish path.

Los Angeles Times

Every electric utility wanted to follow down the path of Enron or Calpine and wanted to develop unregulated trading strategies.

The New York Times

Kacey Musgraves follows down her own path with those forbears as her guide, continuing to replace romance with solace and encouragement wherever it's needed.

Huffington Post

And Sander follows — down the path through the woods, across the bridge and home again, where his mother waits in the kitchen — but only a ghostly part of Sander.

The New Yorker

If Romney's moderate turn toward the general election is actually a permanent return to his technocratic, nonideological roots, how far will conservative media follow him down that path?

The New York Times

Will Kristi Yamaguchi's daughters follow down her icy path?

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When advising someone on a course of action, use the corrected phrase "follow that path" for clarity and grammatical accuracy. It clearly conveys the idea of adopting a particular strategy or making a specific decision.

Common error

Be mindful of the redundancy in using "follow down that path". Simply using "follow that path" is more concise and grammatically sound. Overusing prepositions can clutter your writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase functions as a directive or recommendation, urging someone to adopt a particular course of action. Even though Ludwig AI flags it as grammatically incorrect, its presence in various sources indicates an attempt to guide or influence choices.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Wiki

16%

Science

16%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "follow down that path" appears in various online sources, Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically incorrect, suggesting the proper phrasing is "follow that path". The phrase functions as a directive, with the purpose of advising or suggesting a specific course of action. Although its usage is uncommon, it's most frequently found in news and media contexts. For clarity and precision, it's best to use the grammatically correct alternative, "follow that path", or consider alternatives such as "pursue that course" or "take that route".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

pursue that course

Replaces "follow down" with a single verb, maintaining the sense of actively pursuing a direction. It sounds slightly more formal.

take that route

Substitutes "path" with "route", implying a more direct and potentially shorter way of achieving something.

go down that road

Uses "road" instead of "path", a common metaphor for a course of action.

walk that path

Replaces "follow" with "walk", emphasizing the action of moving along the chosen path.

tread that path

A more literary alternative to "walk that path", suggesting careful or deliberate progress.

embark on that journey

Emphasizes the beginning of a potentially long and challenging endeavor.

adopt that approach

Focuses on the method or strategy being used, rather than the course itself.

choose that direction

Highlights the selection of a specific direction or orientation.

head in that direction

Indicates a movement towards a specific goal or objective. It sounds slightly more informal.

gravitate towards that option

Suggests a natural inclination or preference for a particular choice.

FAQs

Is "follow down that path" grammatically correct?

According to standard English grammar, the phrase "follow down that path" is considered incorrect. The correct phrasing is "follow that path".

What does "follow that path" mean?

The phrase "follow that path" means to pursue a particular course of action, strategy, or decision. It implies adhering to a specific direction or method to achieve a goal.

What can I say instead of "follow down that path"?

You can use alternatives like "pursue that course", "take that route", or "go down that road" depending on the context.

Which is the correct way to say it: "follow down that path" or "follow that path"?

The correct way to say it is "follow that path". The inclusion of "down" is redundant and grammatically incorrect.