following one another

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "following one another" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a sequence or order where one thing comes after another. Example: "The students were called to the stage, following one another in a neat line."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

26 human-written examples

By removing the things that supposedly "connect" us in this wireless, oversharing, humble-bragging age, the founders of Digital Detox hoped to build real connections that run deeper than following one another on Twitter or "liking" someone's photo on Instagram.

The New York Times

It turns out that their answer -- films, theater productions and musical performances following one another on the same stage each evening -- creates a second problem: Faced with a lineup of three, four, even five offerings a night for one ticket, how can a festivalgoer make sense of the choices?

The New York Times

The "stuff" in the middle varies from Bum Bum to Bum Bum highly detailed, absurd real-life scenarios following one another on a nonsense high-paced narrative.

Vice

Family physicians and rheumatologists examined the patients immediately following one another on the same exam day.

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders

Many people developed dialogues after following one another's posts on various subjects, while others got to know those with a common particular interest, such as racial differences in IQ scores, the prisoner abuses that took place at Abu Ghraib, or ethnocentrism — all topics covered in the lectures.

Princeton University

During this period there were several geomagnetic storms following one another: a minor storm on September 9 (K p = 4+), a moderate storm on September 10 (Kp = 6−), and a major storm on September 11 (Kp = 8−).

Earth, Planets and Space

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

34 human-written examples

It cannot, however, be ruled out that instead of measuring a pre-decision phase and the actual decision, there were two different decisions following one-another.

F1000Research

This allows us to limit an unbounded stream to a specific window, and also to detect events following one after another chronologically.

Journal of Cloud Computing

As for my mind, it would be hard to say whether it was dulled or whetted by the task of following one detective after another through the chain of evidence and coincidence that finally bags the culprit.

The New York Times

Once a path is chosen, the user walks through the path, following one transform after another, acquiring data for each node until arriving at the target node.

Security Informatics

SpaceX CEO Elon Musk said after the successful launch that the next goal for the company is to get its reuse window down to 24 hours for following one launch with another using the same rocket.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "following one another" to clearly indicate a sequence or order of events, actions, or items. Ensure the context makes it clear what is following what.

Common error

Avoid using "following one another" when you actually mean 'accompanying' or 'occurring simultaneously'. The phrase strictly implies a sequential relationship, not a concurrent one.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "following one another" typically functions as a participial phrase modifying a noun, indicating a sequential relationship or order. Ludwig AI confirms this usage through numerous examples where it describes events or items in a series.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

36%

Science

32%

Academia

16%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

8%

Wiki

4%

Formal & Business

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "following one another" is a versatile expression used to denote a sequence or order in which events, actions, or items occur. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, this phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used across various domains, including news, science, and academia. While "following one another" is relatively frequent, writers should take care not to assume that it is interchangeable with all expressions that describe succession, and they should ensure that the context clearly establishes the sequence. Remember to specify what exactly is "following" what.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

succeeding each other

Emphasizes the order in which events or items come after one another.

one after another

Highlights the sequential nature of events or items.

in succession

Stresses the continuity and order of events or items.

in sequence

Focuses on the ordered arrangement of items or events.

coming after each other

Describes the positional relationship of items in a series.

pursuing one another

Describes entities actively chasing or seeking each other in a sequence.

chasing one another

Emphasizes the dynamic aspect of the sequence, implying a pursuit.

in turn

Focuses on each entity having its designated place or time.

subsequently

Indicates that something happens after something else, often as a result.

thereafter

Indicates a point in time after a specified event.

FAQs

What does "following one another" mean?

The phrase "following one another" indicates a sequential relationship, where one thing comes after another in a specific order. It implies a succession or a chain of events.

How can I use "following one another" in a sentence?

You can use "following one another" to describe events, people, or items that are arranged in a sequence. For example: "The presentations were scheduled, "one following another", throughout the day."

What are some alternatives to "following one another"?

Some alternatives to "following one another" include "one after another", "in succession", or "succeeding each other". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is there a difference between "following one another" and "following each other"?

"Following one another" implies a linear sequence, while "following each other" suggests a reciprocal or cyclical relationship. For example, runners in a race follow one another, while dancers might follow each other's movements in a circle.