following upon

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "following upon" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate that something is occurring as a result of or in connection with something that has just happened. Example: "Following upon the recent changes in policy, we will be implementing new procedures next month."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

32 human-written examples

In San Francisco the bursting of the dot-com bubble, following upon the withdrawal of important corporate headquarters like Chevron and Bank of America and followed by the desertion of all the tourists, has laid some serious waste.

The New York Times

In contrast, following upon heat-activation, binding of liposomes to the model membranes occurred.

Colloids and Surfaces B: Biointerfaces

The New Yorker, August 26 , 1933P. 7 Professor of Romance Languages told us following upon return from abroad.

The New Yorker

Both were made possible by a sizeable reduction of public spending following upon restrictions in social security.

The Economist

By Howard Hayes and James Thurber The New Yorker, August 26 , 1933P. 7 Professor of Romance Languages told us following upon return from abroad.

The New Yorker

DR. DIX: Do you know, Witness, that following upon the investigation regarding 20 July a committee of generals was former under the chairmanship of Field Marshal Von Rundstedt?

Yale University

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

28 human-written examples

Arguments such as the following depend upon ambiguity.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Examples such as the following depend upon amphiboly: 'I wish that you the enemy may capture'.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

And then there is Ms. Morahan, her gatheringly distraught Helen struggling within a marriage in which abrasion and affection are seen following hard upon one another.

The New York Times - Arts

Read in sequence, as following hard upon "At Swim-Two-Birds," it can be appreciated as equally fantastic and original but more coherent, with a story line that rouses suspense and comes, in irregular fashion, full circle.

The New Yorker

The pioneering interwar years of the medium, following closely upon the invention of the high-speed Leica camera, had passed, and the reinvention of British photography by figures such as Don McCullin, David Bailey and Brian Duffy had not yet begun.

The Guardian - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing formal or scientific texts, consider to stick to the construction: "the X resulting from the Y following upon the Z"

Common error

Avoid using "following upon" if the events are not directly and sequentially related. Ensure that the event described after "following upon" is a direct consequence or immediate successor of the first.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "following upon" functions primarily as a prepositional phrase that introduces a dependent clause, indicating a temporal or causal sequence. Ludwig AI confirms its usage in connecting events, showing a clear relationship between them. It's commonly used to establish a connection between a preceding action or event and its subsequent outcome.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Academia

19%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

8%

Wiki

4%

Formal & Business

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "following upon" is a prepositional phrase used to indicate a sequential or causal relationship between events. Ludwig AI confirms that it's grammatically correct and suitable for formal writing. It's most frequently found in news, scientific, and academic contexts, indicating its use in establishing clear connections between events. While alternatives like "subsequent to" and "in the wake of" exist, "following upon" offers a precise and formal way to link events sequentially. Remember to use it when the relationship between events is clear and consequential, avoiding its use when events are not directly related.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

subsequent to

More formal and emphasizes a clear temporal sequence.

in the wake of

Implies a consequence or aftermath, often negative.

as a result of

Highlights the cause-and-effect relationship more directly.

resulting from

Similar to "as a result of" but emphasizes the outcome.

afterward

Simpler and more general term for something happening later.

thereafter

Formal and indicates a sequence in time.

consequently

Emphasizes a logical consequence or result.

because of

Directly states the cause of an event.

stemming from

Indicates the origin or cause of something.

due to

Specifies the reason or cause for something.

FAQs

How can I use "following upon" in a sentence?

Use "following upon" to connect two events in a sequence, where the second event occurs as a result of the first. For example, "Following upon the announcement of the new policy, several employees resigned."

What are some alternatives to "following upon"?

You can use alternatives like "subsequent to", "in the wake of", or "as a result of" depending on the context.

Is it more formal to say "following upon" than "after"?

Yes, "following upon" is generally considered more formal than "after". It is often used in academic, scientific, or legal writing to indicate a direct sequence of events.

What's the difference between "following upon" and "because of"?

"Following upon" emphasizes the sequence of events, while "because of" emphasizes the cause-and-effect relationship. You would use "following upon" to highlight that one event directly succeeded another, whereas "because of" would explain why an event occurred.