follows

USAGE SUMMARY

"follows" is a correct and usable word in written English.
You can use it as a verb to mean "to come or go after something or someone," as in this example sentence: "The light must be activated before the sound follows."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It goes as follows.

The Economist

It also follows estimates that the Galilee Basin mines feeding the port would produce enough coal to far outstrip Australia's annual carbon emissions, indicating a climate change contribution of global significance.

The Guardian

The latest case follows the Polish champions' fans displaying a large image of a pig imposed on a Uefa badge and the slogan "Because Football Doesn't Matter, Money Does".

The Guardian - Sport

The attack follows twin bomb blasts early on Friday in Tashan Alade, a remote Borno town, which killed at least seven people.

The Guardian

The England No3 then clubs her first boundary straight down the ground, just beating the dive of Jonassen, and follows it up with another, this one singeing the fingers of the bowler before being tossed over the rope courtesy of some pretty miserable fielding down on the boundary, with Jonassen this time the guilty party.

The Guardian - Sport

The announcement of the Nobel prize in chemistry follows on Wednesday, with a China-US duo – Ching Tang and Steven van Slyke – cited as potential winners for the invention of the organic light-emitting diode, used in a range of gadgets including mobile phones.

The Guardian

The new film, Porno, would be based on the 2002 novel by Irvine Welsh, which follows his characters – Begbie, Renton (played by Ewan McGregor in the original film), Sick Boy (Jonny Lee Miller and Spudd (Ewen Bremner) – a decade after their original antics.

The Guardian - Film

Bill Clinton warned that the unusual timing of New Jersey and Virginia gubernatorial elections during the "off year" that follows national elections was the biggest danger for Democrats facing a radicalised Republican base.

The Guardian

Bosch follows a suspect down an alley without his partner.

The Guardian

The launch of the Pay Up campaign follows a series of increasingly radical direct action protests over the past month.

The Guardian

With Lazio having beaten Panthinaikos 3-0 in rome, Group J is as follows: Lazio on top with eight points, Spurs next with six points, Maribor in third with four points and Panthinaikos in fourth with two points.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "follows" to indicate a sequence of events, ensure the context clearly establishes the chronological order. For example, "The presentation was well-received; applause follows naturally."

Common error

Avoid using "follows" with plural subjects. For example, instead of "The events follows", use "The events follow".

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "follows" is as a third-person singular present tense verb. It indicates an action performed by a singular subject in the present, often denoting sequence, consequence, or adherence. Ludwig AI confirms that "follows" is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the term "follows" functions as a third-person singular present tense verb with a neutral register, signifying sequence, consequence, or compliance. It's widely used, particularly in news and media, and deemed grammatically correct by Ludwig AI. When using "follows", ensure subject-verb agreement and clarity in chronological contexts. For alternative expressions, consider "ensues", "comes after", or "results from" to add nuance to your writing. The term is quite common in the English language.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

ensues

Focuses more strictly on a temporal sequence or consequence.

comes after

Emphasizes the order of events or items in a series.

results from

Highlights a causal relationship where something is a direct outcome.

is subsequent to

Formal term indicating that something occurs later in time.

is a consequence of

Highlights the cause-and-effect relationship between two events.

adheres to

Emphasizes compliance with rules, guidelines or principles.

complies with

Implies obedience to a set standard or requirement.

is in accordance with

Shows agreement or conformity with a specific standard or principle.

observes

Highlights the action of watching, noticing, or obeying a custom or law.

maintains

Stresses continuity and adherence to an established course or pattern.

FAQs

How can I use "follows" in a sentence?

You can use "follows" to indicate a sequence of events, as in "The ceremony concludes, and a reception "follows"", or to show adherence to a standard, such as "The design "follows" industry best practices".

What are some alternatives to "follows"?

Alternatives to "follows" include "ensues", "comes after", or "results from". The best choice depends on the specific context and the nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "the following is" or "the following are"?

The correct form depends on what "the following" refers to. If it refers to a singular entity, use "is"; if it refers to multiple items, use "are". For example, "The following is a list of ingredients" versus "The following are the steps to complete the process".

What is the difference between "follows" and "following"?

"Follows" is the third-person singular present tense form of the verb "follow", while "following" is the present participle or gerund form. "Follows" is used when the subject is singular (e.g., "He follows"), and "following" can be used as a noun (e.g., "The following is important") or in continuous tenses (e.g., "He is following").