English grammar has its quirks, and one of the most common mistakes involves hyphen usage—especially with words like follow up vs follow-up. If you’ve ever hesitated while writing an email or report, wondering whether to hyphenate, you’re not alone.
Many people confuse these two forms, leading to errors in professional and academic writing. The good news? Once you learn the key differences and grammatical rules behind them, using the correct form becomes second nature.
This guide will break down everything you need to know about follow up or follow-up, including their meanings, grammatical roles, proper usage, and real-world examples.
Follow Up vs. Follow-Up: Understanding the Key Differences
At a glance, the difference is simple:
- Follow up (without a hyphen) is a verb.
- Follow-up (with a hyphen) is a noun or an adjective.
However, the tricky part comes in identifying when to use each one in a sentence.
Table: Side-by-Side Comparison
| Term | Part of Speech | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Follow up | Verb | “I need to follow up on that request.” |
| Follow-up | Noun/Adjective | “We scheduled a follow-up meeting.” |
Understanding these key differences will help you avoid common writing mistakes. Let’s break it down further.
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Proper Usage: When to Use “Follow Up”
Definition and Function
“Follow up” is an action—it’s something you do. That means it’s always used as a verb.
How to Identify “Follow Up” in a Sentence
- Can you replace it with another action word like “check on” or “pursue”?
- Can you conjugate it (e.g., follows up, followed up, following up)?
- Is it paired with an auxiliary verb (e.g., will, can, should)?
If the answer is yes, you’re dealing with a verb and shouldn’t use a hyphen.
Examples in Context
✅ “I will follow up with the client tomorrow.”
✅ “She followed up after the meeting.”
✅ “They are following up on my request.”
❌ Incorrect: “I sent a follow-up on that.” (Here, “follow-up” should be a noun.)
Proper Usage: When to Use “Follow-Up”
Definition and Function
“Follow-up” serves as either a noun or an adjective. It describes something related to a previous action.
How to Identify “Follow-Up” in a Sentence
- Is it being used as a thing (noun) rather than an action?
- Is it modifying another noun (adjective)?
- Can you replace it with “review” or “check-in” without changing the sentence meaning?
If yes, you need the hyphen.
Examples in Context
✅ “The doctor scheduled a follow-up appointment.” (Adjective)
✅ “I never received a follow-up email.” (Adjective)
✅ “We had a follow-up to our last meeting.” (Noun)
❌ Incorrect: “I will follow-up with you.” (Here, “follow-up” should be a verb without a hyphen.)
Grammatical Clues to Identify the Correct Usage
Grammar provides clear language hints to determine whether to use “follow up” or “follow-up.” Here are some easy tests:
1. The Verb Test
Try replacing “follow up” with another verb like check on or pursue:
✅ “I will check on that issue.” (Correct → Verb, no hyphen needed)
❌ “We had a check on meeting.” (Incorrect → Needs a hyphen)
2. The Hyphen Rule
If the word modifies another noun, it likely needs a hyphen:
✅ “She wrote a follow-up report.” (Adjective → Hyphen needed)
❌ “She wrote a follow up report.” (Incorrect → Needs a hyphen)
Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
People frequently misuse “follow up” and “follow-up” in professional settings. Here are some common errors:
| Mistake | Correction | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| “I will send you a follow-up on that.” | “I will follow up on that.” | Needs a verb, not a noun. |
| “Let’s follow up meeting tomorrow.” | “Let’s have a follow-up meeting tomorrow.” | Needs an adjective. |
| “She followed-up after the meeting.” | “She followed up after the meeting.” | No hyphen for verbs. |
Synonyms for Follow Up and Follow-Up
If you’re unsure about which form to use, consider using a synonym instead.
Synonyms for “Follow Up” (Verb)
- Check on
- Revisit
- Investigate
- Pursue
- Monitor
Synonyms for “Follow-Up” (Noun/Adjective)
- Review
- Check-in
- Follow-through
- Continuation
- Sequel
Etymology of Follow: Where Did It Come From?
The verb “follow” comes from the Old English word folgian, which meant “to accompany or pursue.” Over time, its meaning expanded, and by the 17th century, “follow up” emerged as a phrase meaning “to continue with something.”
The noun form “follow-up” first appeared in the 20th century, largely in business and medical contexts, to refer to subsequent actions or appointments.
Follow-Up Strategies for Professional Settings
1. Writing an Effective Follow-Up Email
- Keep it short and professional
- Reference the previous conversation
- Use a clear subject line (e.g., “Follow-Up on Our Discussion”)
- End with a call to action (e.g., “Let me know your thoughts.”)
2. Scheduling a Follow-Up Appointment
- Confirm the time and location
- Recap previous discussions
- Set clear next steps
Examples in Context: Real-Life Scenarios
Scenario 1: Business Email
Incorrect: “I will follow-up with you soon.”
Correct: “I will follow up with you soon.”
Scenario 2: Medical Appointment
Incorrect: “She has a follow up appointment next week.”
Correct: “She has a follow-up appointment next week.”
Scenario 3: Client Communication
Incorrect: “Let’s do a follow up on the project.”
Correct: “Let’s have a follow-up on the project.”
Conclusion: Mastering Follow Up vs. Follow-Up
To summarize:
- Follow up = Verb (no hyphen)
- Follow-up = Noun or Adjective (hyphen needed)
Quick Test to Remember:
- Can you replace it with “check on”? → No hyphen
- Does it describe a noun? → Use a hyphen
Understanding this small but important grammar rule ensures your writing is clear, professional, and grammatically correct.
Now that you know the difference, will you follow up with better writing? 😊