following month

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "following month" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to the month that comes after the current month or a specified month. Example: "The report is due by the end of this month, and we will review it in the following month."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

The following month Pres.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Bayezid died the following month.

Encyclopedia Britannica

He retired the following month.

Encyclopedia Britannica

until the following month.

The New Yorker

The following month Bishop resigned as speaker.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Two British modernists appear the following month.

Independent

The following month, I was pregnant.

The New York Times

The following month he endorsed Newt Gingrich.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The following month, Raad reconsidered.

The New Yorker

Three were arrested the following month.

The Guardian - Music

Conflict: Desert Storm arrives the following month.

The Guardian - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "following month", ensure the context clearly indicates which month is being referred to. This avoids ambiguity, especially in complex timelines or reports.

Common error

Avoid mixing past and future tenses when describing events in the "following month". Maintain consistent tense for clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "following month" functions as a noun phrase that specifies a time relative to a previously mentioned or understood month. Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase is commonly used to indicate the subsequent month in a sequence of events.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

44%

Encyclopedias

15%

Wiki

12%

Less common in

Science

10%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "following month" is a common and grammatically sound way to refer to the month immediately after a specified or current month. Ludwig AI confirms that it appears frequently across various sources, including news media, encyclopedias, and online wikis. While alternatives like "next month" or "subsequent month" exist, "following month" provides a clear and unambiguous way to sequence events in time. When using the phrase, ensure the context is clear to avoid confusion. Keep tense consistent to maintain clarity in your writing. It is a versatile term suitable for most professional and neutral communication contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

next month

Replaces 'following' with 'next', a more concise term for the same temporal relationship.

subsequent month

Uses 'subsequent' for a more formal tone, indicating the month that comes after.

the month after

Restructures the phrase to emphasize the sequential aspect.

month thereafter

Indicates the month that occurs after a specific event or time.

month following that

Adds 'that' to clarify the reference point, useful when discussing a previously mentioned month.

the ensuing month

Uses 'ensuing' to suggest a natural consequence or progression of time.

the succeeding month

Emphasizes the order of months, with one month 'succeeding' the previous one.

one month later

Simple and direct way to indicate the passage of one month.

the immediately following month

Adds emphasis on the immediacy of the temporal relationship.

the proximate month

Proximate suggests closeness in time, offering a slightly more unusual alternative.

FAQs

How do I use "following month" in a sentence?

Use "following month" to refer to the month immediately after the one you are currently discussing. For example, "The initial report is due this month, and the revisions are due the "following month"".

What's a more formal way to say "following month"?

A more formal alternative is "subsequent month". This term is often used in official documents and academic writing.

Is there a shorter way to say "following month"?

Yes, you can use "next month" as a shorter and more direct alternative to "following month".

What's the difference between "following month" and "in a month"?

"Following month" refers specifically to the next calendar month, whereas "in a month" indicates a period of one month from a specific date, which may not align with the start of the next calendar month.