followings

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "followings" is correct and usable in written English.
It is used to refer to a group of things that follow each other, usually in a list. For example, "This report outlines the followings: the financial impact of the pandemic, potential solutions to the crisis, and future projections."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

At 1.2m followers, the Pope trails the Dalai Lama by 4.5m, but both followings are dwarfed by the hordes of people debating and deconstructing the musings of showbiz figures.

Independent

The company seeks to partner with celebrities with large social media followings to produce games, and with Swift possessing over 70 million Twitter followers, it's easy to see why she was signed up.

Independent

Four men, none of whom have large followings in the party, have said they are exploring possible runs for the Democratic nomination: Martin O'Malley and Lincoln Chafee, the former governors of Maryland and Rhode Island; Jim Webb, the former senator from Virginia; and Bernie Sanders, the independent senator from Vermont and self-described socialist.

The Guardian

Celebrities with big Twitter followings are immensely attractive to advertisers; the accepted wisdom is that one personal endorsement from a beloved star is better value for money than larger amounts of scattershot branding.

The Guardian - Opinion

Under other legislation bloggers with large followings must go through an official registration procedure and have their identities confirmed by a government agency.

The Guardian

As with book publishing (see article), this means there are now legions of fashion "influencers", with big followings on Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest.

The Economist

Videos of cats, no matter how cool, will not lure many paying subscribers; but channels with big, loyal followings, such as Machinima, which specialises in animated programmes and video games for young males, probably could.

The Economist

By fixing the parliamentary term at five years, the coalition has given MPs the time to build strong personal followings in their constituencies.

The Economist

Social media sites have drawn huge followings for pages in defence of Piet.

The Economist

Then again, legal obstacles have rarely held up determined politicians with large followings in the past.

The Economist

All this means that candidates like Mrs Bachmann, a conservative firebrand who was born in Iowa, and those with small but devoted followings, such as Ron Paul, a libertarian from Texas, tend to do well.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing social media presence, use "followings" to refer to the aggregated audience on platforms like Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook. For example, "Celebrities leverage their large social media followings for endorsements".

Common error

Don't use "followings" when referring to individual people. "Followings" refers to the collective group of people who follow someone or something. Use "followers" to refer to individual people.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "followings" is as a plural noun. It typically denotes groups of people who are interested in, support, or adhere to a particular person, cause, brand, or entity. Ludwig AI confirms its consistent use in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Encyclopedias

30%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Science

5%

Wiki

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "followings" functions as a plural noun denoting groups of supporters or adherents. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, its usage is grammatically correct and very common across diverse sources, especially in news and encyclopedic contexts. While it is typically neutral in register, it is important to differentiate it from "followers", which refers to individual members of a group. Consider alternatives such as "supporters" or "adherents" based on the specific context. Using "followings" correctly helps to clearly convey the size and scope of support for a person, brand, or entity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

body of followers

A more descriptive and less common way to refer to "followings".

supporters

Focuses on active support rather than a general group of followers.

group of devotees

Suggests a more intense and dedicated level of commitment.

adherents

Implies a more formal or ideological commitment.

fans

Specifically relates to entertainment or sports enthusiasm.

base of support

Emphasizes the role of followings as source of assistance.

circle of influence

Highlights the power and impact associated with having "followings".

constituency

Often used in political or organizational contexts.

public

More broad in nature, suggesting a general audience.

network of contacts

Emphasizes a professional or interconnected relationship.

FAQs

How do I use "followings" in a sentence?

The word "followings" typically refers to a collective group of people who are interested in or support someone or something. Example: "The politician's large "followings" allowed him to easily win the election".

What's the difference between "followings" and "followers"?

"Followings" refers to the entire group of people, while "followers" refers to individual members of that group. For example, a celebrity has a large following, and each person in that group is a follower.

What are some alternatives to the word "followings"?

Depending on the context, you could use words like "supporters", "adherents", or "fans". For instance, instead of "the band has a large following", you could say "the band has many "fans"".

Is "followings" formal or informal?

The word "followings" is generally considered neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. However, the specific context will dictate the most appropriate word choice. In a business setting, "clientele" or "supporters" may be more fitting.