What Does "as follows" Mean?
- Grammatical function: "As follows" is a fixed introductory phrase used to direct the reader's attention to an upcoming list, explanation, or sequence of information. It functions as a cataphoric reference, pointing forward to what is about to be stated.
- Typical sentence position: It almost always appears in a medial or final position, immediately preceding the information it introduces.
- Register: It is primarily formal and neutral. It is a staple of academic, legal, and technical writing, though it occasionally appears in journalism and professional correspondence.
How to Use It
- Syntactic patterns: The phrase is typically preceded by a subject and a verb (often "be," "go," or verbs of communication like "argue" or "reason"). It is followed by a colon or a period, leading into the detailed content.
- Punctuation rules: In most cases, "as follows" is followed by a colon (:) if the list or explanation follows immediately on the same or next line. If it ends a complete sentence that introduces a separate block of text, a period may be used.
- Grammatical flexibility: It is a fixed idiom. It cannot be moved to the start of a sentence as a standalone modifier (e.g., you cannot say "As follows, the rules are..."). It also cannot be negated or modified (e.g., "as not follows" is incorrect).
- What sounds unnatural or incorrect: Placing the phrase after the list it describes is incorrect. It must always precede the information.
Real-World Examples
These examples are sourced from as follows on Ludwig.guru.
"The dangers are as follows." — independent.co.uk
"Those numbers are as follows." — theguardian.com
"Kant argues as follows." — plato.stanford.edu
"It goes as follows." — economist.com
"They are as follows: 1." — britannica.com
Examples sourced from https://ludwig.guru/s/as+follows
Similar Phrases and Alternatives
| Phrase |
Context |
| the following |
A noun phrase alternative; often used as a subject or object (e.g., "The following are..."). |
| namely |
Used to specify or name items already mentioned; more restrictive than "as follows." |
| thus |
Can be used to introduce a logical demonstration or result in formal logic. |
| such as |
Used for providing examples rather than a comprehensive or exhaustive list. |
| below |
Common in digital or printed documents to refer to information appearing lower on the page. |
Common Mistakes
- The "As Follow" Error: Learners often pluralize the verb to 'as follow' when referring to multiple items, but the phrase is a fixed formula that always remains singular. Even if the subject is plural (e.g., "The reasons are..."), you must use as follows.
- Punctuation Omission: Forgetting to use a colon after the expression can make the transition to the list feel abrupt and confusing for the reader.
- Word Order: Trying to use it at the very beginning of a sentence before the subject (e.g., "As follows the results are") is ungrammatical.
Quick-Reference Summary
| Expression |
Function |
Register |
Typical Position |
| as follows |
Introduces a list or explanation |
Formal/Neutral |
Medial/Final |
FAQs
Where in a sentence can the phrase as follows appear
The expression typically appears in the medial or final position of a sentence, acting as a bridge to the following information. It never functions as a sentence-initial adverbial; instead, it must be preceded by a subject and a verb like be, go, or argue.
What is the difference between as follows and the following
While both introduce new information, as follows is an adverbial phrase that completes a verb, whereas the following acts as a noun phrase or adjective. You would say "The results are as follows" but "The following results were recorded."
Should I change it to as follow for plural lists
No, you should never use as follow because the phrase is a fixed idiomatic expression. Regardless of whether the preceding subject is singular or plural, the verb in as follows always remains in the singular form.