Follow this one up with vs Pursue

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Follow this one up with

Beyond 10,000 (less common)

Pursue

Top 2,000 (common)B2verb
Most common: Pursue
 Follow this one up withPursue
Pronunciation🇬🇧 //ˈfɒləʊ ðɪs wʌn ʌp wɪð//🇺🇸 //ˈfɑloʊ ðɪs wʌn ʌp wɪð//🇬🇧 //pəˈsjuː//🇺🇸 //pərˈsuː//
MeaningDo something after this one.To chase or try to achieve something.
ExampleMake sure to follow this one up with a report.He decided to pursue a career in medicine.
RegisterNeutralNeutral
How commonBeyond 10,000 (less common)Top 2,000 (common)
CEFR level-B2
Part of speechverb
Collocationsfollow up with an email, follow up with a phone call, follow this up with a meetingpursue a goal, pursue a career, pursue an opportunity
Antonyms-abandon, give up, discontinue
Common mistakesConfusing 'follow up' with 'follow down'., Omitting 'with' in the phrase., Using 'follow' without specifying what to follow up with.Confused with 'follow' – 'pursue' implies a more active effort., Using 'pursue' with inanimate objects, instead of actions or goals.
Usage notesUsed in professional or casual contexts to indicate a subsequent action; less common in very formal writing.Use 'pursue' in neutral or formal contexts, such as academic or professional goals. Avoid in casual conversation.

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Follow this one up with

Frequently asked questions: Follow this one up with vs Pursue

What's the difference between Follow this one up with and Pursue?

Follow this one up with: Do something after this one. Pursue: To chase or try to achieve something.

Which is more common: Follow this one up with and Pursue?

Pursue is the most common in everyday English.

Can you show an example of each?

Follow this one up with: Make sure to follow this one up with a report. Pursue: He decided to pursue a career in medicine.

Can I use Follow this one up with and Pursue interchangeably?

Not always. Follow this one up with and Pursue are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.

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