What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
trailing
Example
The bride's dress was trailing behind her as she walked down the aisle. [trailing: verb]
Example
The dog was trailing behind its owner on the hiking trail. [trailing: present participle]
Example
The home team was trailing by 20 points at halftime. [trailing: verb]
following
Example
The following chapter discusses the results of the study. [following: adjective]
Example
The politician has a large following on social media. [following: noun]
Example
Following the instructions carefully, she assembled the furniture. [following: preposition]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Following is more commonly used than trailing in everyday language. Following is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while trailing is less common and often used in specific physical contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between trailing and following?
Both trailing and following can be used in formal and informal contexts, but following is more versatile and can be employed in a wider range of contexts, making it more suitable for formal situations.
