the following second

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "the following second" is not commonly used in written English and may sound awkward.
It could be used in contexts where you are referring to something that will happen immediately after a specified moment, but it is better to use more standard expressions. Example: "I will explain the concept in the following second after I finish this point."

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

27 human-written examples

Cool-season crops differed in resource use, which therefore affected differently the following second crop.

European Journal of Agronomy

The white face on the left represents the playmate, and the orange face on the right represents the subjects' facial behaviour within the following second.

Nature

After some improvements of mock-ups the results of the following second and third test series in 2007 2008 showed noticeable enhancement in performance and resistance against thermal cyclic loadings.

Fusion Engineering and Design

The porous structure of chars produced from the first stage of reactor was largely dependent on the treating temperature, the variation of which was diminished during the following second stage reaction in steam.

Journal of Analytical and Applied Pyrolysis

Sakkari takes advantage on the following second serve.

BBC

must satisfy the following second kind Volterra integral equation (6.7).

Boundary Value Problems

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

33 human-written examples

Consider the following second-order divergence-type elliptic equation: (1.2).

Journal of Inequalities and Applications

In this paper, we consider the following second-order differential equation: (1.1).

Boundary Value Problems

Consider the following second-order Laplacian dynamic equations on time scales (4.1).

Boundary Value Problems

In [4], Agarwal et al. studied the following second-order symmetric linear equation: (29).

Advances in Difference Equations

In this paper, we consider the following second-order linear equations: (1.1).

Advances in Difference Equations

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider using more common alternatives like "the next second" or "immediately afterward" for better clarity and natural flow in your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "the following second" excessively in formal writing; it can sound awkward. Opt for more conventional phrases such as "the next moment" or "subsequently" for improved readability.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "the following second" functions as an adverbial phrase indicating a specific point in time immediately after a preceding action or event. Ludwig shows its usage in scientific and news contexts.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

60%

News & Media

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "the following second" is a phrase used to indicate an event occurring immediately after another, functioning as an adverbial phrase of time. Ludwig notes that while grammatically acceptable, it is not as common as alternatives like "the next second". It appears mainly in scientific and news contexts but is relatively rare overall. For clearer and more natural writing, consider using more conventional phrases. While it's grammatically sound, other alternatives will deliver the same meaning with greater clarity and flow.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

the next second

Replaces "following" with "next" to denote the immediate subsequent moment, offering a more common and straightforward alternative.

immediately afterward

Uses an adverbial phrase to specify that something occurs directly after the previous event, emphasizing the temporal proximity.

in the subsequent second

Substitutes "following" with "subsequent", maintaining a formal tone while indicating the next moment in sequence.

one second later

Specifies the exact temporal gap, making it clear that the action happens precisely one second after the preceding event.

the very next instant

Emphasizes the immediacy of the action, using "very" to strengthen the sense of 'right after'.

directly after that

A more conversational way to indicate something happening right after a previous action, focusing on the temporal connection.

in a split second afterward

Highlights the speed with which the following action occurs, suggesting near-instantaneous succession.

the instant after

Shortens the phrase while maintaining the core meaning of an immediate sequence.

on the heels of that

Uses an idiomatic expression to describe something following closely behind, implying a direct and rapid succession.

post that brief moment

A formal option emphasizing a minimal time lapse before the succeeding event

FAQs

What are some alternatives to "the following second"?

You can use alternatives like "the next second", "immediately afterward", or "in the subsequent second" depending on the context.

Is "the following second" grammatically correct?

While grammatically sound, "the following second" is not a very common phrase. More standard expressions might be clearer and more natural.

How can I use "the following second" in a sentence?

You can use it to indicate an event that occurs directly after a specified moment. For example, "I will start the timer, and in the next second, we'll begin the experiment."

What's the difference between "the following second" and "the next second"?

Both phrases refer to the immediate subsequent moment, but "the next second" is more commonly used and generally sounds more natural than "the following second".