followed by + event
Show sequence
Use followed by to show that one thing comes after another.
The lecture was followed by a discussion.
Follow by, from, in, on or with
Different prepositions after follow create different meanings. Some combinations are standard, while others are uncommon or incorrect.
Quick answer
Which prepositions are used with follow?
Followed by is very common for sequence. Follow from means result from. Follow on from means happen as a result. Follow with means continue by doing something else. Follow in usually appears in expressions like follow in someone's footsteps. Follow by without the passive form is usually incorrect.
Dinner was followed by coffee.
Several problems follow from this decision.
She followed with a short speech.
He followed in his father's footsteps.
Several problems follow from this decision.
She followed with a short speech.
He followed in his father's footsteps.
Choose the pattern by meaning
These forms are not interchangeable. Choose the construction by meaning, not by which preposition appears most often.
follow from + fact
Express a result or conclusion
Use follow from when one idea logically results from another.
These conclusions follow from the evidence.
follow on from + event
Describe a consequence
Follow on from connects one event to a previous cause or situation.
The changes follow on from last year's review.
follow with + action
Continue with another action
Use follow with when someone adds another action, statement, or performance.
The band followed with an encore.
follow in someone's footsteps
Copy another person's path
Follow in is used in fixed expressions about copying someone's career or behaviour.
She followed in her mother's footsteps.
See the difference in context
The same subject can take different constructions because each sentence answers a different question.
Construction
Example
Meaning
followed by
The meal was followed by dessert.
one thing comes after another
follow from
The answer follows from the data.
result logically from something
follow on from
The delays follow on from staffing problems.
happen as a consequence
follow with
He followed with another question.
continue by adding something
follow by
Incorrect: We follow by a short break.
follow by without followed is generally nonstandard in this meaning
Common mistakes
Some combinations appear in real text but do not mean what learners often assume.
Using follow by instead of followed by
In sequence expressions, English normally uses the passive form followed by.
✕ The talk follow by questions. ✓ The talk was followed by questions.Confusing follow from and follow on from
Follow from is about logic. Follow on from is about events or consequences.
✕ The meeting followed from the strike. ✓ The meeting followed on from the strike.Quick practice
Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.
1. The ceremony was ___ a concert.
2. This conclusion ___ the available evidence.
3. She ___ her uncle's footsteps and became a pilot.
Check your sentence in context
Paste the complete sentence below. Linguix checks the preposition together with grammar, spelling, punctuation, and style.
Free to try · No signup required
Frequently asked questions
Is follow by correct?
Usually no. English normally uses followed by in sequence expressions.
What is the difference between follow from and follow on from?
Follow from is logical. Follow on from is about events caused by earlier events.
Can follow with be used for speech?
Yes. Speakers can follow with a comment, question, or explanation.
Related preposition guides
Write with confidence in Linguix
Create a free account to check complete texts, apply suggestions, and save your documents.
