following order

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "following order" is not correct in English; it should be "following orders." You can use it when referring to a sequence of commands or instructions that need to be adhered to.
Example: "The team was instructed to complete the tasks in the following order: first, gather the materials; second, assemble the components; and finally, test the product."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

In what follows, we shall address these questions in the following order.

SEP

Following the standard protocol, VBM analysis was performed in the following order [ 33– 33].

BioMed Research International

They are in following order - Maid - Secretary - Pantry - Mr. Stuyvesant.

The New Yorker

For this competition, shooting positions alternate in the following order: prone, standing, prone, standing.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Ammonia conversion increased in the following order: Cu < SS < Ni.

Catalysis Today

Further search is carried out in the following order: 1.

Journal of Modern Transportation

We create the values of in the following order: (11).

EURASIP Journal on Embedded Systems

Thus, we consider the following order of combinations: 1.

Computational Social Networks

The test was conducted in the following order.

International Journal of Geo-Engineering

The messages are exchanged in the following order: 1.

Journal of Internet Services and Applications

Define the following order in, for any, (1.1).

Fixed Point Theory and Applications

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a multi-step process, use ordinal numbers (first, second, third) or bullet points to clearly delineate the "following order" of steps for clarity.

Common error

Avoid using the phrase "following order" as it is grammatically incorrect. The correct phrase to use is "following orders" when referring to obeying commands, or use alternatives like "in the following sequence" when referring to a sequence of steps or items.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "following order", although grammatically incorrect, is intended to function as a noun phrase specifying the manner in which tasks or events should proceed. While Ludwig's AI detected the error, examples show frequent usage across various domains, indicating a common understanding despite the grammatical issue.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

66%

News & Media

12%

Encyclopedias

2%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "following order" sees frequent usage across diverse contexts such as science and news media, Ludwig identifies it as grammatically incorrect. The proper phrase is "following orders" when referring to obeying commands. When describing a sequence or process, it is best to use grammatically correct alternatives like "in the following sequence" or "according to the established order". Pay close attention to maintaining grammatical accuracy to ensure clarity in both formal and informal writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

according to the order

This alternative emphasizes compliance with an established or pre-defined sequence.

in the specified order

This phrase highlights the importance of adhering to a particular arrangement that has been previously defined.

in the established order

Highlights the existence of a conventional or previously agreed-upon sequence.

sequentially

This adverb directly indicates that steps are carried out in a specific order, one after another.

in the proper order

This stresses the correctness of the sequence and the need to maintain that order.

in the sequence

This alternative focuses on the arrangement of items or steps, emphasizing the order in which they appear.

in turn

This suggests that actions or events are performed one after another, each having its designated place in the series.

in succession

This phrase describes a series of actions or events that follow one another without interruption.

in chronological order

This is used when the sequence follows a timeline or historical progression.

as instructed

This alternative is more general and implies following directions rather than a specific sequence.

FAQs

What's the correct way to say "following order"?

While "following order" is frequently used to indicate a sequence, it's grammatically incorrect. The correct phrase is "following orders" when referring to compliance. For sequences, consider alternatives like "in the "in the sequence"" or "in the specified order".

Can I use "following order" in formal writing?

It's best to avoid "following order" in formal writing due to its grammatical inaccuracy. Opt for more precise and grammatically correct alternatives such as "according to the order" or "sequentially".

What does "following order" mean?

While grammatically incorrect, "following order" is generally understood to mean adhering to a specific sequence or set of instructions. More appropriate alternatives include "in turn" or "in succession" depending on the context.

Is there a difference between "following order" and "following orders"?

Yes, there is a significant difference. "Following orders" refers to obeying commands or instructions, while "following order" (though grammatically incorrect) is used to describe adhering to a sequence or arrangement. When describing a sequence is best to use grammatically correct forms like "in the proper order".