following their return

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "following their return" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate actions or events that occur after someone has come back from a place or situation. Example: "The team will discuss the project updates following their return from the conference."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

43 human-written examples

They will be given a welfare debrief by police following their return.

The Guardian

The writer Emily Mickeyy) Hahn poses in 1944 with her daughter Carola, following their return from occupied China.

The New Yorker

The New York players, who arrived in Manhattan just 5 hours before game time following their return from Friday night's triumph in Minnesota, were fighting the fatigue.

The New York Times - Sports

Whatever lay ahead for them couldn't be as bad, they figured, as what they went through the first few months following their return from war.

The New York Times - Magazine

By Taras Grescoe April 11, 2017 The writer Emily (Mickey) Hahn poses in 1944 with her daughter Carola, following their return from occupied China.

The New Yorker

Between them, Trott and Kenny won five gold medals in Brazil and find themselves at the centre of attention following their return to the United Kingdom.

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

17 human-written examples

Palace have so far been quiet in the transfer market following their impressive return to the Premier League last season, with Blackpool goalkeeper Chris Kettings the only permanent arrival.

BBC

However, with doubts over whether the latter two will start the season following their late return from the Copa America in Chile, I think Wayne Rooney offers a great early season captaincy option at Manchester United.

BBC

City will be without Yaya Touré and Wilfried Bony, who are yet to return following their success with Ivory Coast at the Africa Cup of Nations in Equatorial Guinea.

The Guardian - Sport

Something is Not Right With Me by Cold War Kids (from MySpace) The Long Beach quartet make a quiet return following their 2006 debut Robbers and Cowards by streaming their new single on MySpace.

The Guardian - Music

"We have top players who exemplify womanhood, becoming mothers, and are not being allowed to return following their pregnancy with a record that reflects that — Victoria Azarenka last year, and Serena now doing the same thing," Adams said Saturday in a telephone interview.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "following their return", ensure that the pronoun "their" clearly refers to a specific group or entity mentioned earlier in the sentence or context. This enhances clarity and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid placing "following their return" at the beginning of a sentence if it creates a dangling modifier. Ensure that the subject performing the action is clearly identified immediately after the phrase.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "following their return" functions as a prepositional phrase modifying a verb or clause. Ludwig AI indicates the phrase is correct, meaning that it is grammatically sound and fits within standard usage patterns.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

34%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Wiki

6%

Encyclopedias

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "following their return" is a grammatically sound and commonly used prepositional phrase. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. It serves to establish a sequence of events, indicating that something occurs after a group or entity has returned. The phrase is versatile, fitting various contexts from news and media to scientific writing, although it leans toward a neutral to formal register. For more casual settings, simpler alternatives like "after they returned" might be preferable. When using this phrase, ensure clarity by making sure "their" clearly refers to a previously mentioned entity to avoid ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

after they returned

This alternative uses a more direct and simpler phrasing, replacing "following their return" with "after they returned."

upon their return

This phrase uses "upon" to indicate immediacy after the return, conveying a sense of promptness.

subsequent to their return

This is a more formal alternative that emphasizes the sequence of events after the return.

in the wake of their return

This phrase implies that events happen as a consequence or result of their return.

post-return

This is a concise, often used in technical contexts, to indicate events or conditions after a return.

after their homecoming

Using "homecoming" suggests a return to a place of origin or belonging, adding an emotional aspect.

on their reappearance

This alternative emphasizes the act of reappearing, suitable when the return involves something or someone becoming visible again.

once they had returned

This phrase uses a past perfect construction to emphasize the completion of the return before subsequent events.

after coming back

A simpler, more casual way of expressing the sequence of events after someone's return.

with their return

This alternative highlights the return as a condition or circumstance under which events occur.

FAQs

How can I use "following their return" in a sentence?

You can use "following their return" to indicate events or actions that occur after a group or entity has come back from a specific place or situation. For example, "Following their return, the team will analyze the data collected during the experiment."

What are some alternatives to "following their return"?

Alternatives include "after they returned", "upon their return", or "subsequent to their return", depending on the level of formality you require.

Is "following their return" formal or informal?

"Following their return" is generally considered a neutral to formal phrase, suitable for both professional and academic writing. Simpler alternatives like "after they returned" might be more appropriate for informal contexts.

What's the difference between "after their return" and "following their return"?

While both phrases are similar, "following their return" often implies a more direct sequence or immediate consequence compared to "after their return". The choice depends on the desired emphasis in the sentence.