followed closely behind

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "followed closely behind" is correct and usable in written English.
You could use it to describe the actions of the subject in a sentence. For example: Jack followed closely behind his mother as she weaved her way through the crowded market.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

48 human-written examples

Piexotto followed closely behind Shinn as the second woman to earn a Ph.D. from Cal, in political science.

University of California, Berkeley

GoDaddy, with two commercials in the game, followed closely behind, with a brand lift of 626 percent.

The New York Times

The health and education sectors followed closely behind, suggesting that more employers in the NHS, the care industry and universities have come to rely on zero-hours contracts.

The Guardian

Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed al-Sabah followed closely behind, telling reporters that "when the number of innocent people killed exceeds two thousand, it is something totally unacceptable".

The New Yorker

The health and education sectors followed closely behind, indicating that more employers in the NHS, the care industry and universities have come to rely on zero-hours contracts than last year.

The Guardian

Leicester's staff and players followed closely behind, along with Claudio Ranieri, Nigel Pearson and Craig Shakespeare, three of their former managers, as the club came together to applaud the fans and in particular to show their support for Aiyawatt, who looked overcome by it all as he walked towards the centre circle holding a Thailand flag.

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

12 human-written examples

Following closely behind is outstanding grilled rack of lamb.

The New York Times - Food

Following closely behind are Grimsby on 25 (12 promotions and 13 relegations) and Bolton (12 promotions and 12 relegations).

The Guardian - Sport

Following closely behind are Bolton and Grimsby on 24 (12 promotions and 12 relegations) and Birmingham and Manchester City (unsurprisingly!) on 23 (12 promotions, 11 relegations).

The Guardian - Sport

Disclosure and confidentiality follow closely behind, being present in a similar number of publications as disruption/availability.

Journal of Internet Services and Applications

Following closely behind is PTF-POS, which implies phrase frequency and first occurrence position are two very significant features in keyphrase extraction and should not be ignored.

Data Science and Engineering

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "followed closely behind" to clearly indicate a sequence where one entity directly succeeds or is near another in space or time. Ensure the context provides a clear subject and object for the action.

Common error

Avoid using "followed closely behind" when you intend to convey that one event caused another. This phrase primarily indicates sequence or proximity, not necessarily a cause-and-effect relationship.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "followed closely behind" functions primarily as a verbal phrase indicating the action of subsequent movement or positioning near another entity. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

28%

Academia

6%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Wiki

12%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "followed closely behind" is a versatile verbal phrase used to describe the action of coming directly after something or someone, maintaining close proximity. Ludwig AI confirms that it is grammatically correct and suitable for various writing styles. Its frequent appearance in News & Media, Science, and Academic contexts highlights its neutrality and widespread applicability. While alternatives like ""trailed closely"" or ""came right after"" exist, "followed closely behind" remains a common and effective way to convey sequential actions and proximity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

trailed closely

Emphasizes the act of trailing or pursuing, maintaining proximity.

came right after

Focuses on the immediate sequence in time or order.

remained close

Emphasizes proximity without necessarily implying movement.

shadowed

Suggests a more covert or watchful following.

kept pace with

Indicates maintaining the same speed or progress.

accompanying closely

Emphasizes a parallel movement or presence.

was hot on the heels of

Implies a pursuit with great urgency and closeness.

lagged only slightly

Suggests a minimal distance or difference in progress.

pursued relentlessly

Highlights the persistence and intensity of the pursuit.

walked in the footsteps of

Suggests following a path or example set by someone else.

FAQs

How can I use "followed closely behind" in a sentence?

You can use "followed closely behind" to show that someone or something came immediately after another, for example: "The challenger "followed closely behind" the champion in the race".

What phrases are similar to "followed closely behind"?

Similar phrases include "trailed closely", "shadowed", and "came right after". The best choice depends on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "closely followed behind" instead of "followed closely behind"?

While understandable, "followed closely behind" is the more common and grammatically conventional order. Reversing the adverb placement can sound awkward.

In what contexts is "followed closely behind" most appropriately used?

It's suitable for describing sequences of events, movements, or rankings where proximity or immediacy is important. It's frequently found in "news & media", "scientific" and "formal & business" writing, as seen in various examples.