follow-on effects

USAGE SUMMARY

"follow-on effects" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is used to describe a series of consequences that result from an initial event. For example, "The economic recession has had far-reaching follow-on effects, including increasing unemployment and rising poverty levels."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

20 human-written examples

We call the second type 'high-leverage problems.' These are issues where a relatively minor adjustment made in one area can create huge cascading follow-on effects elsewhere.

Forbes

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

The New Yorker

While the THC itself won't kill a dog, its follow-on effects could.

The Guardian

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

We find that snow albedo feedback adds critical spatial structure to the future warming patterns in the region, with important follow-on effects on snowpack, runoff timing, and soil moisture.

University of California, Berkeley

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

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

40 human-written examples

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

The New York Times

"There tends to be a follow-on effect, particularly when something happens in a big state like California," said Harold Feld, a senior vice president at nonprofit consumer group, Public Knowledge, which supports net neutrality efforts by the states.

The New York Times - Tech

The follow-on effect of a single decision that ripples through the entire system.

Forbes

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

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing complex situations, use "follow-on effects" to clearly indicate that certain outcomes are a direct result of an initial action or event. This helps to establish a clear cause-and-effect relationship for your reader.

Common error

Avoid assuming that all events occurring after an initial event are necessarily "follow-on effects". Ensure a clear causal link exists, rather than just a temporal relationship. Just because B happened after A, does not necessarily mean A caused B. It's crucial to discern actual consequences from coincidental occurrences.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "follow-on effects" functions as a noun phrase that describes the consequences or results that occur as a direct result of an initial action or event. As seen in the Ludwig examples, it’s used to highlight cause-and-effect relationships in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Science

39%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

6%

Academia

3%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "follow-on effects" is a commonly used noun phrase that denotes the consequences or results stemming directly from an initial event. As noted by Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct and effectively communicates cause-and-effect relationships. It is most frequently found in news, scientific, and formal business contexts, indicating a neutral to professional register. To enhance clarity, remember to ensure a genuine causal link when using the phrase and consider alternatives like "subsequent consequences" or "resulting impacts" for variety. By understanding its function and typical usage, you can confidently incorporate "follow-on effects" into your writing to describe complex situations with precision.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

subsequent consequences

Emphasizes the temporal order of the consequences, highlighting that they come after the initial event.

resulting impacts

Focuses on the effects or influence caused by the initial event, often implying a significant change or outcome.

downstream effects

Uses a metaphor to indicate effects that occur later in a process or system, implying a cause-and-effect relationship.

knock-on effects

Similar to "follow-on effects" but emphasizes a chain reaction or cascading impact.

secondary consequences

Highlights that the consequences are not direct but rather a result of the initial effects.

ensuing repercussions

Implies that the consequences are often negative or undesirable, suggesting a sense of fallout or negative impact.

indirect results

Focuses on the lack of a direct causal link, emphasizing that the outcomes are a step removed from the initial action.

later developments

Broadly refers to events or changes that occur after the initial event, without necessarily implying a direct causal relationship.

cascading consequences

Stresses the domino effect, where one event triggers a series of subsequent events.

ancillary outcomes

Highlights that the outcomes are supplementary or secondary to the main event, often unexpected or less significant.

FAQs

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

You can use "follow-on effects" to describe the consequences that stem from an initial event. For example, "The factory closure had significant "follow-on effects" on the local economy, including job losses and business closures."

What are some alternatives to using the phrase "follow-on effects"?

Alternatives include "subsequent consequences", "resulting impacts", or "downstream effects", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is there a difference between "follow-on effects" and "side effects"?

"Follow-on effects" generally refer to the broader consequences of an action or event, while "side effects" typically describe unintended, often negative, consequences, particularly in medical or technical contexts. Thus "side effects" are most of the times a sub-set of "follow-on effects".

When is it appropriate to use "follow-on effects" in writing?

It's appropriate when you want to emphasize that certain events or outcomes are directly linked to a previous action or decision. It is very important that the consequences are effects of an action. If action A is not causing action B, then it is better not to use "follow-on effects", because that can lead to misunderstanding and logical fallacies.