further down the chain

USAGE SUMMARY

'further down the chain' is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to refer to something that has happened after something else, usually in a sequence. For example, "The recent news has had far-reaching effects further down the chain in the organization."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

29 human-written examples

No one thought further down the chain.

The New York Times

But as trials began to reach further down the chain of command, soldiers rebelled.

The New York Times

"Female singers are leading the industry, whether it is Taylor Swift, Adele or Katy Perry, or further down the chain.

The Guardian

This puts the pressure further down the chain, particularly if it forces pensioners to raise their contributions.

The New York Times

This puts the pressure further down the chain, particularly if it forces the fund's working members to raise their contributions.

The New York Times

Those suppliers push further down the chain and, if all goes well, workers, farmers and maybe the planet are all a little better off.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

29 human-written examples

Implementing a law against food waste and thus pushing the food waste further down the value chain will never create a long lasting solution.

Huffington Post

(Oxfams also asserts, oddly in light of the campaign's core strategy of holding top-level consumer-facing companies accountable for abuses further down in the chain, that "[u]ltimately, solutions in Sre Ambel will be driven by community leaders like Sok Phoeurn, by Khon Kaen Sugar Industry (the company most directly involved), and by the Cambodian government," i.e. not Coca-Cola).

Huffington Post

All are localized, and eigenvectors with longer timescales are localized further down in the chain.

eLife

We presume that the processing of cotton fibers leads to reduction of endotoxin content and that exposure to endotoxins would be much lower further down in the retailing chain of textile products.

BMC Cancer

Similar verification hurdles arose further down the chronological chain.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use “further down the chain” to discuss cause and effect, where an action at one level influences subsequent levels.

Common error

Avoid using "further down the chain" when describing physical locations or distances. It's primarily used for sequential processes or hierarchical structures, not literal spatial relationships.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "further down the chain" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to indicate a subsequent point in a process, hierarchy, or sequence. It describes where an action or effect takes place in relation to an initial event, as confirmed by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

52%

Science

28%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "further down the chain" is a versatile prepositional phrase used to indicate progression within a sequence or hierarchy. As Ludwig confirms, it's grammatically correct and widely used, especially in news, scientific, and business contexts. Its frequency and consistent application in authoritative sources highlight its reliability and clarity in conveying sequential relationships. When writing, remember that this phrase is generally appropriate in formal and neutral registers. Use "further down the chain" when you want to express consequent action or consequence from previous action within an organization or event's flow.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

lower in the hierarchy

Emphasizes the ranked structure more explicitly.

later in the sequence

Focuses on chronological order rather than hierarchical structure.

further along in the series

Implies a linear progression through a set of events or items.

subsequently in the process

Highlights the procedural aspect of a series of actions.

lower echelons

This is a more formal way to refer to levels within a hierarchy.

deeper into the structure

Suggests a more complex, layered organization.

in the following stage

Highlights the sequential nature of stages or phases.

downstream in the flow

Metaphorically represents a cascading effect or sequence.

at a later point

A more general way to indicate a subsequent time or step.

beneath the surface

This alternative suggests something that is hidden or not immediately obvious.

FAQs

How can I use "further down the chain" in a sentence?

You can use "further down the chain" to describe subsequent steps in a process, lower levels in a hierarchy, or the effects of an action on subsequent stages. For instance, "The impact of the decision was felt further down the chain."

What's the difference between "further down the chain" and "at a later stage"?

"Further down the chain" implies a hierarchical or sequential relationship, often in business or organizational contexts, while "at a later stage" is more general and can apply to any sequence of events.

Which is correct, "further down the chain" or "farther down the chain"?

Both "further down the chain" and "farther down the chain" are grammatically correct, but "further" is generally preferred for metaphorical distances, like steps in a process, while "farther" is used for physical distances. In this context, "further" is the more common and appropriate choice.

What are some alternatives to "further down the chain" that I can use?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "later in the sequence", "lower in the hierarchy", or "subsequently in the process".