the follows

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "the follows" is not correct in standard written English.
It is likely intended to refer to something that comes next, but the correct form would be "the following." Example: "Please review the following points before our meeting."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The code to do this is the follows: ' ; ' ; " ; ' ; As next step we need to fill to following lines.

WikiHow

The follows are also refreshingly unpredictable.

The New York Times

The follows a provision of the health law that allows parents to cover dependents up to their 26th birthdays.

The New York Times

She wins two lovely rallies with killer forehands which hit the chalk and the follows up with an ace to win the game to love.

The Guardian - Sport

Orbach describes social media as a place where we negotiate our own fears and body insecurities, seeking approval in the follows and likes of others.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

First set: V Williams 1-1 S Williams* Serena starts with an ace, the follows it up with a great point, moving Venus from side to side three times.

The Guardian - Sport

It has a sudden, inorganic feel, as if it were built in a day; nearly a quarter of the follows are for his own hotels and golf clubs, so a lot of the timeline is filled with pictures of diced vegetables and there are as many links as hyperlinks.

The Guardian

the follows to be (29).

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

We borrow their theory in the follows.

Journal of Modern Transportation

The Activity stream shows the follows, favorites, and retweets of the people you follow.

TechCrunch

The reason may be explained as the follows.

International Journal of Coal Science & Technology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Replace "the follows" with "the following" or "as follows" to ensure grammatical correctness. This improves clarity and credibility in your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "the follows" as a noun phrase to introduce a list or explanation. This construction is grammatically incorrect. Use "the following" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "the follows" functions incorrectly as a determiner followed by a noun, where it attempts to introduce a list or explanation. As Ludwig AI explains, this phrase is not standard English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

48%

News & Media

33%

Wiki

7%

Less common in

Formal & Business

6%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "the follows" appears frequently, especially in scientific and news contexts, it's grammatically incorrect. The correct alternatives are "the following" or "as follows". Ludwig AI's analysis highlights the importance of using grammatically sound phrases to maintain clarity and credibility in writing. Correcting this error enhances the professional tone and ensures effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

the following

Corrects the grammatical error by using the proper adjective form.

as follows

Provides a grammatically correct way to introduce a list.

the subsequent items

Replaces "follows" with a more descriptive term, emphasizing the sequential nature.

the listed items

Focuses on the act of listing, offering a clear and direct alternative.

the details below

Indicates that the information is provided in a subsequent section.

the ensuing steps

Emphasizes the sequence of actions that will occur.

the succeeding points

Highlights that these are points which come directly after.

the items below

Specifies that items are described in subsequent position.

the points outlined hereafter

Provides a formal way of indicating that specific points will be addressed in greater detail in the paragraphs that follow.

in the manner described below

Highlights the fact that the actions described are specific and forthcoming.

FAQs

What's the correct way to introduce a list: "the follows" or "the following"?

The correct way to introduce a list is "the following" or "as follows". "The follows" is grammatically incorrect.

Can I use "the follows" in academic writing?

No, "the follows" is not appropriate for academic writing because it's grammatically incorrect. Use "the following" or "as follows" instead to maintain a professional tone.

What can I say instead of "the follows"?

You can use alternatives like "the following", "as follows", or "the subsequent items" depending on the context.

Is "the follows" ever considered acceptable?

While "the follows" appears in some writing, it's generally considered grammatically incorrect. Sticking to "the following" ensures clarity and correctness.