What does follow up mean?
The phrase follow up means to pursue something further, to take additional steps, or to check back on a previous conversation, task, or event. Follow up is widely used in business, health care, customer service, and everyday communication.
I will follow up with you next week.
Please send me a follow-up email after the meeting.
Can you follow-up with me tomorrow?
She scheduled a follow up appointment.
Follow up can function as a verb (“to follow up on something”) or as a noun/adjective (“a follow-up call”). Getting the form right is key for clear, professional writing.
When to use “follow up” vs “follow-up”?
The difference depends on how you’re using the phrase in a sentence:
| Follow up (verb) | To take action after something, or to check back in. |
| Follow-up (noun or adjective) | A thing (call, email, appointment) that comes after the original event. |
Here are some examples in action:
| I’ll follow up with you about the project. |
| Let’s schedule a follow-up meeting for Thursday. |
| The nurse will follow up after your procedure. |
| Don’t forget to send a follow-up email. |
Etymology of “follow up”
The phrase follow up comes from the verb “to follow” + the adverb “up,” meaning to continue or pursue something further. Its use in business English dates back to the early 1900s. The noun/adjective form—follow-up—emerged soon after, especially in medical and corporate settings.
How to write and punctuate “follow up” and “follow-up”
- Verb: Always two words — “follow up” (“I will follow up next week.”)
- Noun/adjective: Always hyphenated — “follow-up” (“Let’s have a follow-up discussion.”)
Try swapping “follow up” for “check in” or “continue”—if it still makes sense, you’re using the verb form. If it’s a thing (an email, meeting, or call), use the hyphenated noun/adjective: “follow-up.”
Sentences using “follow up” (verb)
| She will follow up with the client next week. |
| Did you follow up on the application? |
| We need to follow up after the training session. |
| I’ll follow up once I have more information. |
| Our team should follow up with a phone call. |
Sentences using “follow-up” (noun/adjective)
| He sent a follow-up email to clarify the details. |
| The doctor recommended a follow-up appointment. |
| The follow-up survey was sent to all participants. |
| We’ll have a follow-up call after the interview. |
| The manager scheduled a follow-up review for next month. |
Common phrases with “follow up” and “follow-up”
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Follow up on | To take further action regarding something |
| Follow-up question | An additional question asked after the initial inquiry |
| Follow-up appointment | A subsequent medical visit after an initial procedure |
| Follow-up call | A phone call made to check on progress or provide more information |
| Follow-up email | An email sent to check in or provide additional details |
FAQs
A: Use “follow up” as a verb when you mean to pursue something or check in. Example: “I will follow up tomorrow.”
A: Use “follow-up” as a noun or adjective to describe an event, item, or action that comes after the original. Example: “She sent a follow-up email.”
A: No. The verb form is always two words: “follow up.” Only the noun/adjective use the hyphen: “follow-up.”
A: No, use “follow up on” (no hyphen) as a verb. The hyphenated “follow-up” is only for nouns/adjectives.
A: Both US and UK English use this distinction: verb = “follow up,” noun/adjective = “follow-up.” Always check your organization’s style guide for specifics.
Sources
- Oxford English Dictionary, entry for “follow up” and “follow-up”
- Merriam-Webster Dictionary, “follow up” and “follow-up” definitions
- Chicago Manual of Style, hyphenation guidelines
- Grammar Monster, “Follow up or Follow-up?” grammar-monster.com
- Cambridge Dictionary, “follow up” and “follow-up” examples
Keep learning! Check out more posts on tricky English usage:
Yash, D. "How to Use Follow Up or Follow-Up (Explanation, Usage)." Grammarflex, Aug 28, 2025, https://grammarflex.com/follow-up-or-follow-up/.
