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Follow Up, Follow-Up, and Followup are all alternate spellings of the same word. Are they correct to use, or should you stick with one spelling only?
Psst! The secret is in the hyphen! Here’s what you should know:
- Follow up is the official verb spelling
- Follow-up is the typical adjective and noun spelling
- Followup is the alternative adjective and noun spelling of “follow-up”
Let’s shed some more light on verbs, nouns and adjectives and how you can use follow up, follow-up and followup in sentences.
Follow Up
The verb form is used when referring to an action, such as “to follow up on something” or “to follow up with someone.” Follow up means to do something after an initial action has been taken or to find out more about something.
Follow up is a transitive verb. This means that it requires an object to complete its meaning.
Example Sentences with “Follow Up”
- I will follow up with you next week to see how the project is going.
- The meeting was productive, but we need to follow up with more research before making a decision.
- I followed up the phone call with a letter.
- I’m following up on the job application I submitted last week.
- Let’s follow up with our clients to see if they are satisfied with the services we provided.
- The team is following up on the leads we got from our last marketing campaign.
Follow Up Synonyms
Alternatives to “Follow Up”:
- To do something more
- To check on something
- Track
- Monitor
- Continue
- Pursue
- To find out more
- Stay on top of (idiom)
- Carry out further investigation
Follow-Up
The adjective and noun forms is spelled with a hyphen, “follow-up.”
Example Sentences with “Follow-Up”
- We have a follow-up meeting scheduled next week to discuss the project further.
- It’s important to do a follow-up review after implementing any changes.
- A follow-up call is needed to make sure our customers are satisfied with the service.
- We have a follow-up appointment scheduled to review your progress.
- Your follow-up questions were very thorough and helpful.
- We are recording a follow-up podcast to discuss the new changes.
Followup
Followup is an alternative spelling of the noun and adjective “follow-up,” but is rarely written, and many people think it is just plain wrong! It is also rarely seen in the dictionary. Therefore it is best to avoid it unless your style guide or company explicitly states to use it.
Examples of “Followup” in use
“FOLLOWUP: Terminal 5 Quiet Zone project out for bidding” — West Seattle Blog
Conclusion
Follow Up, follow-Up and followup can all be used to mean the same thing: to take further action on something or find out more about something.
However, the correct spelling to use depends on the context. For example, when referring to an action or verb, follow up should be used; and when describing something or using the noun form, follow-up or followup should be used. Ultimately, it is best to follow the style guide or company rules for spelling.
Who have you last followed up with? Put your writing into practice in the comments section below!
Commonly Asked Questions
Here are some frequently asked questions related to our topic:
Follow Up With or Follow Up On?
Sometimes “follow up with” and “follow up on” are used interchangeably. If we say “follow up on,” we usually say that we are checking on something or monitoring something and its performance. If we say “follow up with,” it typically means contacting someone or taking further action about something.
Is Follow Up One Word?
Follow up is usually two separate words, although you may occasionally see it spelled as “followup” in the noun or adjective form.
What is a Follow-Up Email?
A follow-up email is an email sent after initial contact to remind the recipient of the conversation and continue to drive the conversation forward. It can be used to update someone on a project, ask for feedback, or check in about an agreement.
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Caitriona Maria is an education writer and founder of TPR Teaching, crafting inspiring pieces that promote the importance of developing new skills. For 7 years, she has been committed to providing students with the best learning opportunities possible, both domestically and abroad. Dedicated to unlocking students' potential, Caitriona has taught English in several countries and continues to explore new cultures through her travels.