followed hard

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "followed hard" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase when you want to indicate someone is closely and persistently pursuing something or someone. For example, "He followed hard after her, determined not to let her get away."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

38 human-written examples

Then came Prohibition, followed hard by industrialization.

The New Yorker

As the country struggled to make national health care viable, scheme followed hard upon scheme.

Encyclopedia Britannica

In the years that followed – hard years, punctuated by more raids – Philip began dreaming of avenging his father's death.

The Guardian

Through March 3 How were Vito Acconci's revolutionary strategies adopted by the artists who followed hard on his heels?

The New York Times - Arts

This followed hard on the heels of a report that a long-lost Fitzgerald short story called "Temperature" had also been unearthed and was about to be published.

The Guardian - Books

Above all, what the people of Beslan crave is answers to the countless questions that followed hard on the heels of the grief and shock.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

22 human-written examples

The update to the 2003 waste from electrical and electronic equipment (Weee) directive followed hard-fought bargaining over how to improve the recovery of computers and other electronic and electrical waste, much of which was either dumped in landfills or shipped abroad for disposal because of the high cost of recycling in Europe.

The Guardian

It was a state-sponsored Romanian cop show called Comrade Detective, which followed hard-hitting, above-the-law detectives Gregor Anghel and Joseph Baciu as they prevented Reagan mask-wearing assassins and capitalist conspiracies from rotting their Romanian motherland.

Vice

Like much of America, Janney followed Harding's saga closely.

Huffington Post

Happily, Frederick Ashton's A Month in the Country follows hard on its heels.

The Guardian

It follows hard on the heels of similar comments made by both Tony Blair and George Bush.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "followed hard" to vividly describe situations where one event or action closely and rapidly succeeds another, creating a sense of immediacy or consequence.

Common error

Avoid using "followed hard" when simply indicating a sequence of events without the specific connotation of close timing and potential intensity. "Followed" alone might suffice for neutral sequencing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "followed hard" functions as a verb phrase, where 'followed' is the past tense of the verb 'follow', and 'hard' acts as an adverb modifying the verb to indicate intensity or closeness in time or space. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, this phrase is grammatically correct and usable in English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Encyclopedias

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Academia

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "followed hard" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression to denote events or actions occurring closely and intensely in sequence. As Ludwig AI confirms, its use is appropriate across various contexts, particularly in news and media, encyclopedias, and scientific writing. While versatile, remember to use this expression when the intent is to convey immediacy or consequence. Alternatives such as "pursued relentlessly" or "came immediately after" may be considered to enhance clarity or stylistic variation. Understanding these nuances will aid in leveraging "followed hard" effectively in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

pursued relentlessly

Emphasizes the persistence and determination in the pursuit, highlighting the intensity of the action.

came immediately after

Focuses on the temporal proximity of the events, stressing that one event happened directly after another.

succeeded closely

Indicates a succession of events with minimal delay, emphasizing the close timing of the occurrences.

hastened after

Conveys a sense of urgency and speed in the following action, suggesting a quick response.

ran after intensely

Highlights the physical exertion and focus involved in the pursuit, adding a dynamic element.

chased vigorously

Emphasizes the energetic and forceful nature of the pursuit, suggesting a strong effort.

shadowed intently

Suggests a close and careful following, often with a sense of observation or surveillance.

dogged the heels of

Implies a persistent and unwavering pursuit, often used metaphorically to describe relentless following.

kept close pursuit

Indicates a deliberate and maintained effort to stay near or behind someone or something.

stalked aggressively

Conveys a more forceful and potentially menacing form of pursuit, suggesting a predatory or threatening action.

FAQs

What does "followed hard" mean?

The phrase "followed hard" means to pursue someone or something closely and intensely, or that one event happened very soon after another.

How can I use "followed hard" in a sentence?

You can use "followed hard" to describe events that occur in quick succession, such as "The economic downturn "followed hard" on the heels of the pandemic".

What are some alternatives to "followed hard"?

Alternatives to "followed hard" include "pursued relentlessly", "came immediately after", or "succeeded closely" depending on the context.

Is it always appropriate to use "followed hard"?

While grammatically correct, "followed hard" is not appropriate in all contexts. It implies a sense of intensity or urgency, so ensure it aligns with the situation you're describing. If you remove this implication, consider just using "followed".