the following spring

USAGE SUMMARY

'the following spring' is correct and usable in written English.
It is usually used to refer to the springtime of the year (March, April, and May) directly following the current one. For example, "In the following spring, we planted a garden in our backyard."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Fruit hypertrophy begins the following spring with ripening during summer.

BMC Plant Biology

Mulch the following spring.

Independent

They hatch the following spring.

Encyclopedia Britannica

He died there the following spring.

Encyclopedia Britannica

He returned home the following spring.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The following spring, they went to Nepal.

The New Yorker

The following spring, Ure died.

The New Yorker

The following spring, outside it goes.

The New York Times - Style

The following spring, Dubček was ousted.

The Guardian - Sport

He invited me to Vienna the following spring.

The Guardian - Music

The following spring, she proved it was no fluke.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "the following spring", ensure the context clearly establishes a prior event or time frame to which the spring is subsequent. This avoids ambiguity and ensures clarity for the reader.

Common error

Avoid using "the following spring" when referring to a spring season in the distant past without establishing a clear sequence of events. Ensure the tense aligns with the timeline you are describing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "the following spring" functions as a temporal adjective phrase, modifying an implied verb or event. It specifies when something occurred, indicating the spring season subsequent to a previously mentioned event or period, consistent with Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

44%

Science

24%

Encyclopedias

12%

Less common in

Wiki

9%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

"The following spring" is a common phrase used to denote the spring season that immediately follows a specific event or period. Grammatically correct and versatile, it appears frequently in various contexts, especially in News & Media and Scientific publications. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, the phrase is well-accepted and clearly understood. When using this phrase, ensure the context clearly establishes the prior event to avoid ambiguity. Alternatives like "the subsequent spring" or "the next spring" can be used for variety while retaining the intended meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

the subsequent spring

Replaces 'following' with 'subsequent', maintaining the same meaning.

the next spring

Uses 'next' instead of 'following', indicating the immediate spring season after the current one.

the ensuing spring

Substitutes 'following' with 'ensuing', implying a spring season that follows as a consequence.

the spring thereafter

Rephrases to indicate the spring season that comes after a specified time.

the spring immediately after

Adds emphasis to the immediacy of the spring season in relation to a preceding event.

the later spring

Uses 'later' to suggest a spring season that comes at some point in the future, relative to a specific event.

the upcoming spring

Refers to the spring season that is about to happen or is expected soon.

the succeeding spring

Employs 'succeeding' to denote the spring season that follows in sequence.

the spring to follow

Inverts the structure to emphasize that the spring season will come after a certain period.

in the spring after that

Provides a more descriptive way of specifying the spring season after a given event.

FAQs

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

Use "the following spring" to refer to the spring season that comes directly after a specific event or time period. For example, "After the harsh winter, the following spring brought abundant wildflowers."

What phrases are similar to "the following spring"?

Alternatives include "the subsequent spring", "the next spring", or "the ensuing spring", all indicating the springtime that comes after a specified time.

Is it correct to say "the next spring" instead of "the following spring"?

Yes, "the next spring" is a perfectly acceptable and often interchangeable alternative to "the following spring". Both phrases denote the spring season immediately after a specific event or time.

What is the difference between "the following spring" and "the previous spring"?

"The following spring" refers to the spring season that comes after a certain point in time, while "the previous spring" indicates the spring season that occurred before a specific event or period.