followed

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "followed" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to describe something that happened directly after another action. Example: I ate lunch and followed it with a delicious dessert.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Travel

Sport

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The DUP leader's ultimatum followed the collapse of the trial of John Downey, suspected of involvement in the 1982 Hyde Park bombing which killed four soldiers.

The Guardian

"Best practice from the independence referendum must be followed – and that includes extending the vote in an EU referendum to 16- and 17-year-olds across the UK.

The Guardian

In the days that I followed Jones around, I heard several people who ran training programs in green professions complain that once their students had graduated they couldn't find work.

The Economist

It stopped, and was immediately followed by a voice remarking her own thoughts.

The Economist

(My dad was followed because he admired western technology).

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Terrorism (including Irish terrorism) emerged as the No 1 priority, followed, less predictably, by cyberwarfare.

The Guardian - Opinion

A standard duathlon is a 10km run followed by a 40km cycle and a final 5km run, but two new events, in Stockton-on-Tees and Winchester, are more accessible for beginners.

The Guardian - Travel

The answer is not for "formal" education to begin earlier, but the evidence in favour of state funding for play-based, nursery settings from the age of two – followed by a gentle transition into school life – is clear.

The Guardian - Opinion

Several past and present England internationals – an entire slip cordon – followed suit.

The Guardian - Sport

If any player can soothe the Demon heartache that came when No2 pick Christian Petracca suffered a season-ending knee injury in the first months of his career, you'd think it's the young man who followed him by one place in the national draft.

The Guardian - Sport

But once there, their lives exemplify why the crowds have not followed in their wake.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "followed" to describe a process or procedure, ensure that each step logically follows from the previous one, creating a coherent flow.

Common error

Avoid using "followed" when the relationship between events is not strictly sequential; instead, consider using words like "accompanied" or "occurred simultaneously" to indicate concurrent events.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "followed" is as the past participle of the verb follow. It's used to indicate that an action has been completed and often functions as part of a verb phrase, such as in passive voice constructions. Ludwig AI indicates that the word usage in this context is correct.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

63%

Travel

11%

Sport

9%

Less common in

Opinion

2%

Lifestyle

2%

Business

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "followed" functions as a past participle to indicate chronological sequence across various contexts. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and the examples demonstrate its common usage, especially in News & Media, Travel, and Sport. When writing, ensure a clear and logical sequence of events. For alternatives, consider "came after" or "ensued" to achieve similar meanings. Use "followed" to clearly show that one action/event happened directly after another. Avoid using it when there is no clear sequential relationship.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

came after

Emphasizes temporal succession, focusing on what occurred subsequently.

ensued

Highlights the immediate consequence or result of a previous action or event.

resulted

Focuses on the outcome or effect stemming from a prior cause or action.

succeeded

Indicates a direct transition or inheritance of a position or state.

was subsequent to

Formally denotes a temporal relationship, indicating something that happened later.

arose from

Highlights the origin or cause that led to a specific situation or event.

stemmed from

Focuses on the root cause or origin from which something originated or developed.

traced back to

Indicates a historical or causal connection to an earlier event or condition.

derived from

Emphasizes the source or origin from which something is obtained or developed.

originated in

Points to the initial place or time where something began or was created.

FAQs

How can I use "followed" in a sentence?

Use "followed" to indicate that one event or action happened after another. For example, "The presentation was "followed by" a question and answer session."

What are some alternatives to "followed"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "ensued", "resulted", or "came after" to replace "followed". Each alternative carries a slightly different nuance.

Is it correct to say "followed by" or "followed with"?

"Followed by" is generally the correct usage when indicating that something happened after something else. "Followed with" can be used, but it's less common and may sound awkward in some contexts.

What's the difference between "followed" and "preceded"?

"Followed" means to come after something, while "preceded" means to come before. They are antonyms indicating opposite directions in a sequence.