The phrase "following upon" is spelled with three syllables, /ˈfɒl.əʊ.ɪŋ əˈpɒn/. The first syllable is pronounced like "fall," the second syllable is pronounced like "low," and the third syllable is pronounced like "on." The phrase means "after" or "in the wake of" and is commonly used in academic and legal writing. The spelling and pronunciation of this phrase may vary between British and American English, but the phonetic transcription remains the same.
Following upon is a phrase used to describe an action or event that occurs subsequently to another action or event or as a consequence of it. It implies a sequential or logical connection between two occurrences. The phrase can be used in various contexts, such as cause and effect, chronological order, or as a continuation of a previous action or event.
In cause and effect situations, following upon suggests that one event leads to or causes another event, emphasizing the connection between the two. For example, if a company announces a decrease in earnings, it may lead to a subsequent decline in its stock price, with the latter action following upon the former.
When referring to chronological order, following upon indicates that one event occurs immediately after another in a particular sequence. This usage highlights the temporal relationship between the two occurrences. For instance, one might say that following upon the presentation, there will be a Q&A session.
In terms of continuation, following upon conveys that an action or event is a direct result or extension of a previous one. This usage emphasizes the link between the two actions and usually implies a logical progression. For example, following upon the success of the first film, the sequel was eagerly anticipated by fans.
Overall, following upon is a versatile phrase that denotes a connection between two actions or events, suggesting that they are either caused by each other, occur in chronological order, or are a continuation of one another.
The etymology of the phrase following upon can be traced back to the combination of two separate words:
1. Following: This word comes from the Old English word fylgend which means pursuing or coming after. It is derived from the verb folgian which means to follow.
2. Upon: This word originated from the Old English word uppan which was a combination of up (meaning up or upon) and -an (a suffix indicating location or direction). Over time, uppan evolved into upon.
When these two words are combined, following upon simply means coming after or pursuing upon.