follow-on effect

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "follow-on effect" is correct and usable in written English.
It is often used to refer to a secondary or indirect result of an initial action. For example, "The collapse of the financial market had a devastating follow-on effect on the global economy."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

That would have a follow-on effect on trading, where revenue has recently dipped.

The New York Times

These terms are undefined by the bill, which would leave rules open to an extraordinary array of challenges, since almost any significant rule has some follow-on effect at some point on smaller businesses.

Huffington Post

The more widespread and longer term consequences of illness, injury and disability, with the follow-on effect of health service use, have to be considered.

BMC Health Services Research

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

"This has lots of follow-on effects," he went on.

The New Yorker

Of course, those numbers also don't include the personal costs borne by families and individuals, nor the follow-on effects of cancer treatment in the form of future weaknesses, illnesses, lost wages and lower productivity.

The Guardian

"Abu Ghraib and its follow-on effects, including the continued drum-beat of 'torture' maintained by partisan critics of the war and the president, became a damaging distraction," Mr. Rumsfeld writes.

The New York Times

Removing price supports would instantly quadruple the price of gasoline, and the follow-on effects could result in similar increases for basic goods and an inflation rate of 60percentt or more, according to the Majlis Research Center, the research arm of Parliament, which is run by a conservative lawmaker, Ahmad Tavakoli.

The New York Times

In a scenario report prepared by the Pentagon for President George W. Bush, in 2003, the authors warn, "With over 400 million people living in drier, subtropical, often over-populated and economically poor regions today, climate change and its follow-on effects pose a severe risk to political, economic, and social stability.

The New Yorker

Many countries in the Asia-Pacific region are vulnerable to Ring of Fire earthquakes and their follow-on effects, including the massive Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004 and the earthquake-tsunami disaster in March 2011 that killed an estimated 18,000 Japanese, crushed Japan's northeastern coast and crippled the Fukushima nuclear complex.

The New York Times

Most problems associated with obesity, they say, are caused by sugary diets and the follow-on effects of insulin, particularly its role in encouraging fat accumulation.Whatever the precise mechanisms, there is no doubt that obesity is implicated in a surge of chronic disease.

The Economist

The principal potential risk identified was that introduced birds are likely to be the main consumers of supplementary food sources in New Zealand, which may have follow-on effects for avian community composition.

Biological Conservation

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "follow-on effect", ensure the connection between the initial action and its consequence is clear to the reader. Provide enough context to establish this relationship.

Common error

Avoid attributing any outcome as a "follow-on effect" without sufficient evidence that the initial action directly caused it. Ensure the relationship is causal and not merely correlational.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "follow-on effect" functions primarily as a noun phrase. It typically describes a consequence or result that stems indirectly from an initial action or event. Ludwig AI confirms its correct and usable nature in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

33%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "follow-on effect" refers to an indirect or secondary consequence of an action or event. Ludwig AI confirms its validity. Its usage is generally neutral to formal, lending itself well to analytical writing. It's commonly found across various contexts, including news, science, and business. While the phrase is grammatically sound, it's important to ensure a clear causal link between the initial action and the described consequence. Alternative phrases like "secondary consequence" or "ripple effect" can provide nuance or formality depending on the writing context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Knock-on effect

Synonymous term, commonly used to describe a chain reaction of events.

Indirect result

Highlights that the result is not a direct outcome but a consequence of something else.

Secondary consequence

Emphasizes the consequence as a direct result of something else.

Subsequent impact

Focuses on the impact that occurs after the initial event.

Ripple effect

Highlights the cascading nature of the effect, similar to ripples in water.

Ramification

Implies a broader and more significant consequence.

Unintended consequence

Draws attention to the unplanned or unexpected nature of the result.

Domino effect

Illustrates how one event triggers a series of similar events.

Chain reaction

Highlights a series of events triggered by an initial action.

Aftermath

Focuses on the events that occur following a significant event.

FAQs

How can I use "follow-on effect" in a sentence?

You can use "follow-on effect" to describe a consequence that results indirectly from an initial action. For example, "The new policy had a significant "follow-on effect" on employee morale."

What's a more formal alternative to "follow-on effect"?

For a more formal tone, consider using "secondary consequence" or "subsequent impact" which are more appropriate for academic or business writing.

Is there a difference between "follow-on effect" and "ripple effect"?

While both terms describe indirect consequences, ""follow-on effect"" generally refers to a specific, identifiable consequence, whereas "ripple effect" suggests a cascading series of consequences spreading outward.

What is another phrase to describe unintended outcomes, similar to "follow-on effect"?

If you specifically want to highlight the unplanned or unexpected nature of the consequence, consider using "unintended consequence" as a substitute for "follow-on effect".