What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
successive
Example
The company has had three successive quarters of growth. [successive: adjective]
Example
The team won the championship for the third successive year. [successive: adverb]
following
Example
The following chapter explains the main concepts in more detail. [following: adjective]
Example
After the meeting, the following decisions were made. [following: participle]
Example
The author gained a large following after publishing her first book. [following: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Following is more commonly used than successive in everyday language, as it has a wider range of applications and can be used in various contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between successive and following?
Both successive and following are relatively formal words that are commonly used in written English. However, following can also be used in informal spoken English.
