in quick succession

USAGE SUMMARY

"in quick succession" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to express that something happened rapidly or immediately after another thing. Example sentence: The audience clapped in quick succession after the performance.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Three shots in quick succession.

The New York Times

The papers appeared in quick succession.

The New Yorker

They read surprisingly well in quick succession.

The Economist

ate three of them in quick succession.

Cornell University

William's heart thudded twice in quick succession.

The New Yorker

She smokes two cigarettes in quick succession.

The Guardian - Film

Balloons began popping, three in quick succession.

The New York Times

Then two arrived in quick succession.

The Guardian - Sport

Four courses come out in quick succession.

The New Yorker

More attacks followed in quick succession.

The New York Times

Eight more followed in quick succession.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "in quick succession" when you want to convey a sense of speed and immediacy between a series of events. For example, "The victories came in quick succession, boosting the team's morale."

Common error

Avoid using "in quick succession" when the events are not truly rapid or immediately following one another. Using the phrase when there are significant gaps between events can dilute its impact and accuracy.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "in quick succession" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying verbs or clauses to indicate that actions or events occurred rapidly and consecutively. Ludwig AI confirms this usage through numerous examples where it describes the timing of events.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

81%

Academia

11%

Encyclopedias

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

1%

Science

1%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "in quick succession" is a common and grammatically correct adverbial phrase used to describe events occurring rapidly one after another. As Ludwig AI confirms, it functions to emphasize the speed and immediacy of a sequence, suitable for various contexts but most frequently found in news and media. While alternatives like "rapidly" or "swiftly" exist, "in quick succession" offers a specific nuance of sequential immediacy. It's crucial to use it accurately, ensuring the described events truly follow each other in close time to avoid misinterpretation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in rapid sequence

Emphasizes the ordered arrangement of events happening quickly.

in swift order

Highlights the speed and efficiency with which events unfold.

one after the other rapidly

Stresses the consecutive and accelerated nature of the occurrences.

in close order

Focuses on the proximity and immediacy between successive events.

in short bursts

Highlights brief, intense periods of activity following each other.

in quick time

Emphasizes the speed at which a task or series of events is completed.

on short order

Highlights the immediacy and promptness of a sequence of actions.

close together

Indicates items or events are near each other in time or space.

in immediate sequence

Emphasizes the lack of delay between consecutive actions or events.

in swift alignment

Highlights the speed and coordinated nature of elements or events coming together.

FAQs

How can I use "in quick succession" in a sentence?

Use "in quick succession" to describe events that happen one immediately after another. For example, "The company released three new products "in quick succession"."

What are some alternatives to saying "in quick succession"?

You can use alternatives like "rapidly", "swiftly", or "immediately" depending on the specific context.

Is there a difference between "in quick succession" and "in rapid succession"?

While both phrases are very similar, "in rapid succession" might emphasize a slightly higher degree of speed or intensity than "in quick succession". Both are generally interchangeable.

Can I use "in quick succession" to describe events that are not related?

It's best to use "in quick succession" to describe a series of related events that follow each other closely in time. Using it for unrelated events might sound awkward or unclear.