followed suit

USAGE SUMMARY

"followed suit" is correct and usable in written English.
It is used to express that someone does the same thing that someone else has done. Example sentence: After the other three children had gone to bed, the youngest sibling followed suit.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Local jurisdictions followed suit.

The New Yorker

Soon others followed suit.

The New York Times - Travel

Other cities followed suit.

The Economist

My children followed suit.

The New York Times

"Other businesses followed suit.

The New York Times

So I followed suit.

The New York Times

I followed suit.

The New York Times - Travel

Other climbers followed suit.

The New York Times - Arts

Congress quickly followed suit.

The Economist

The ratings followed suit.

The New York Times

Other markets followed suit.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "followed suit" when you want to indicate that someone or something acted in response to and in the same manner as a preceding action. It implies a direct link between the initial action and the subsequent one.

Common error

Avoid using "followed suit" when the subsequent action is merely similar but not directly influenced by the initial action. The phrase implies a conscious or direct imitation, not just a coincidental similarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "followed suit" functions as an idiomatic expression indicating that someone or something acted in a similar manner to what preceded it. Ludwig examples confirm its use in describing imitative actions across various scenarios.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

73%

Encyclopedias

11%

Science

6%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Wiki

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "followed suit" is a common and grammatically correct idiomatic phrase used to indicate that someone or something acted in a manner similar to what came before. Ludwig's examples demonstrate that this phrase is widely used in news and media, as well as in encyclopedic content. The phrase serves to establish a connection between actions, indicating influence or imitation. Remember to use it when you want to show a direct link between an initial action and a subsequent one. If you need an alternative, consider options like "emulated" or "did the same". According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is suitable for neutral contexts and is often found in reputable sources, making it a reliable choice for your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

did the same

Very direct and simple way of indicating identical actions.

emulated

This implies a conscious effort to imitate or match the actions of another.

matched

Indicates actions becoming equal or similar to a previous one.

mirrored

Suggests a direct and often exact replication of an action or behavior.

echoed

Suggests that a second action is a consequence or imitation of the first.

copied

Indicates a more straightforward and less nuanced form of imitation.

took after

Similar to emulated, but more often refers to inherent qualities or behaviors.

acted similarly

A general way to describe similar behavior without implying direct imitation.

conformed

Implies aligning one's actions with a standard or prevailing behavior.

aligned themselves

Suggests a deliberate choice to match actions or policies.

FAQs

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

You can use "followed suit" to show that someone or something did the same thing as someone else. For instance, "After John started using the new software, the rest of the team "followed suit"".

What are some alternatives to "followed suit"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "emulated", "mirrored", or "did the same".

Is it correct to say "follow suite" instead of "followed suit"?

No, the correct phrase is ""followed suit"". "Suite" refers to a set of rooms or a collection of items, while "suit" refers to a set of clothes or a course of action.

What's the difference between "followed suit" and "took after"?

"Followed suit" implies a direct imitation of an action, while "took after" suggests inheriting qualities or behaviors, often from family members.