following the protocol

USAGE SUMMARY

"following the protocol" is correct and usable in written English.
For example, "I will be sure to follow the protocol when handling this delicate assignment."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

"I Am Barack Obama, President of the United States," he began, following the protocol of Reddit's "AMA" chats almost laughably to the letter.

The Guardian

The next generation mobility management schemes are mainly following the protocol stack of MIPv6.

Simulation Modelling Practice and Theory

"We relied on the operators actually following the protocol," he said.

Huffington Post

Samples were hydrated following the protocol described above.

Plosone

Modelling studies were performed following the protocol reported in Lott et al. [15].

Plosone

The normalized data were used in the R statistical package following the protocol in [17].

Plosone

NP was purified using Ni++ column chromatography following the protocol provided by the vendor (Novagen).

Plosone

The optimal overall marker order was inferred following the protocol described by Niehuis et al. [33].

Plosone

Alkaline phosphatase assay of ES cells was performed following the protocol as previous described [29].

Plosone

Riboprobes were labeled with digoxigenin-UTP (Transcription kit; Roche Products), following the protocol of the manufacturer.

Plosone

Labeled RNA was quantified by the 32P-incorporation assay following the protocol from Promega.

Plosone

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing technical documentation, always explicitly state which version of the "protocol" you are "following" to ensure clarity and reproducibility.

Common error

Avoid using "following the protocol" when you actually mean adhering to general guidelines. "Protocols" are specific, detailed procedures, while guidelines are broader recommendations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "following the protocol" functions as a verb phrase, describing the act of adhering to a specific set of rules or procedures. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is both grammatically correct and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

69%

News & Media

15%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "following the protocol" is a grammatically correct and frequently used phrase that describes adherence to a specific set of rules or procedures. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's suitable for various contexts, ranging from scientific research to news reporting. Its formality level varies depending on the situation, but it's generally considered neutral to formal. When using this phrase, ensure you clearly specify which "protocol" you're referencing to avoid ambiguity. For alternatives, consider "adhering to the guidelines" or "complying with the procedure" depending on the context and desired emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

adhering to the guidelines

This alternative emphasizes compliance with specific guidelines rather than a general protocol.

complying with the procedure

Focuses on the act of compliance with a specific procedure. It replaces "protocol" with "procedure".

observing the regulations

Highlights adherence to formal regulations rather than a flexible protocol.

acting in accordance with the rules

Stresses behavior that is aligned with established rules, changing the verb from "following" to "acting".

conforming to the standards

Emphasizes meeting established standards, altering the focus from a process to an outcome.

executing according to the plan

Highlights the implementation phase of a pre-defined plan, adding a layer of intentional action.

maintaining compliance with the norms

Stresses the ongoing effort to stay within accepted norms, adding a temporal dimension.

abiding by the established process

Emphasizes a commitment to respect and adhere to the accepted process, similar to "complying".

operating within the defined framework

Highlights the constraints and boundaries within which actions are taken, changing the focus from action to context.

respecting the designated method

Emphasizes the importance of the designated method, showing a certain level of deference.

FAQs

How can I use "following the protocol" in a sentence?

You can use "following the protocol" to describe adherence to a specific set of procedures, such as "The researchers were meticulous in "following the protocol" for data collection".

What is a more formal way to say "following the protocol"?

More formal alternatives include "adhering to the protocol", "complying with the protocol", or "acting in accordance with the prescribed procedures".

Is it always necessary to specify the protocol when saying "following the protocol"?

Specifying the protocol, especially in technical or professional contexts, enhances clarity and avoids ambiguity. For example, "Following the protocol outlined in the ISO 9001 standards".

What's the difference between "following the protocol" and "following the procedure"?

While similar, "protocol" often implies a more formal and standardized set of steps, especially in scientific or medical contexts, whereas "procedure" can refer to any sequence of actions to achieve a result.