Have you ever stopped while writing an email or essay and thought, "Is it follow up or follow-up?" You're not alone! This is one of the most common little grammar puzzles that confuses even adult writers. I'm a language coach and grammar expert, and today, I'll make it easy for you to remember the difference. Whether you're 12 or 52, you’ll leave here with full confidence in using this phrase the right way.
What Does “Follow Up” Mean?
"Follow up" means to check back on something, usually after an action has started. If someone emails a question and you don’t respond, they might follow up with you later. Doctors follow up after treatments. Teachers follow up after homework. It just means checking back to make sure everything is going well.
Quick Tip:
If you can put "to" in front of it—like "to follow up"—then don’t use a hyphen. It’s a verb!
When to Use “Follow Up” (No Hyphen)
Use “follow up” without a hyphen when it’s a verb—when someone is doing the action. For example: “I will follow up with the teacher tomorrow.” Here, the person is doing the follow-up. This version is used when something is happening or going to happen. It’s an action.
"When I started working in customer service, I always had to follow up with people after a complaint. That’s how I remembered: follow + up = action!" – Grammar Coach Sam
When to Use “Follow-Up” (With Hyphen)
Use “follow-up” with a hyphen when it's a noun (thing) or adjective (describing word). Example: “Let’s plan a follow-up call.” The word “call” is being described by “follow-up,” so you need the hyphen. You can also say, “We had a follow-up.” In both cases, “follow-up” is not doing anything—it is a thing or description.
Follow Up vs Follow-Up Examples
- I will follow up with her tomorrow. ✅ (Verb)
- She sent a follow-up email. ✅ (Noun)
- This is a follow-up question. ✅ (Adjective)
- Let’s follow-up tomorrow. ❌ (Wrong – action needs no hyphen)
Is “Follow Up” Hyphenated?
This is one of the most searched questions! The answer: sometimes. If it's a verb, no hyphen. If it’s a noun or adjective, yes hyphen. This is called “compound word variation,” and English is full of these examples (like “check-in” vs “check in”).
Why It Matters: Common Mistakes
Using the wrong form in formal writing, especially emails, can look unprofessional. Many people write “follow-up” when they mean the action (follow up), or forget the hyphen when they need one. This can confuse readers. Learning the rule once makes a big difference in your communication.
Key Benefits of Knowing the Difference:
- Better grammar in emails and school writing
- More confidence in word choice
- Fewer spelling mistakes
- Clearer communication in professional settings
“Follow Up” in Emails
In emails, “follow up” usually shows up as an action: “Just following up on our meeting…” or “I wanted to follow up on your question.” Make sure not to hyphenate it here. If you say, “This is a follow-up email,” then use the hyphen.
“Follow-Up” in Medical and Business Settings
Doctors use “follow-up appointments.” Teachers use “follow-up tests.” In these cases, it’s always a thing (noun) or description (adjective), so use the hyphen. It's a small rule that makes big writing feel smarter and more precise.
Grammar Rule Summary
- Verb (action) = follow up
- Noun or Adjective = follow-up
This is just like “run over” (verb) vs “run-over accident” (adjective).
Final Advice from a Grammar Coach
When I teach this to students, I tell them to try replacing the word with “check back.” If that fits, it's a verb and no hyphen is needed. If it doesn’t fit, it’s probably a noun or adjective and needs the hyphen. After a few times, it becomes second nature!
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is “follow-up” a verb?
No, “follow-up” is a noun or adjective. The verb form is “follow up.”
Q: Can I say “follow-up” meeting?
Yes! That’s correct. “Follow-up” describes the meeting, so it's an adjective and needs the hyphen.
Q: What is the plural of follow-up?
It’s “follow-ups.” Example: “We had three follow-ups after the first session.”
Q: Do I need to hyphenate in “follow up on that”?
No, because that’s a verb phrase. No hyphen is needed when it’s an action.
Q: Is “follow up” ever wrong?
It’s wrong if used as a noun or adjective without the hyphen. Example: “That’s a good follow up” ❌ should be “follow-up.” ✅
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