“Following up” is a phrasal verb that typically means to take further action to check on something, pursue a matter further, or continue dealing with a situation that has already been initiated. Here are some synonyms and an analysis of each:
1. Pursuing
- Analysis: “Pursuing” means to continue to try to achieve something or to follow a course of action in order to reach a particular goal. For example, “The detective was pursuing the leads in the case.” It emphasizes the active and determined effort to keep going with something. In comparison to “following up,” “pursuing” often implies a more focused and perhaps more intense drive to achieve an outcome, while “following up” can be more about checking in or ensuring that things are progressing as expected.
2. Checking in
- Analysis: “Checking in” means to make contact with someone or something to find out how things are going. For example, “The project manager checked in with the team regularly to see if they needed any help.” It has a more casual and routine connotation. Similar to “following up,” it involves getting an update, but “checking in” might be done in a more informal way and is often used in the context of maintaining communication with people, whereas “following up” can cover a broader range of situations including checking on tasks, processes, or events.
3. Monitoring
- Analysis: “Monitoring” means to watch, observe, or keep track of something over a period of time. For example, “The doctor was monitoring the patient's condition closely.” It emphasizes the continuous oversight. In contrast to “following up,” which usually implies taking some kind of action after an initial occurrence, “monitoring” is more about simply observing and being aware of developments. However, monitoring can be part of the process of following up, especially when you need to know the status before deciding on further actions.
4. Tracking
- Analysis: “Tracking” means to follow the progress or movement of something. For example, “The shipping company was tracking the package to ensure its timely delivery.” It is similar to “monitoring” in that it focuses on keeping tabs on something. When compared to “following up,” “tracking” is more about knowing where something is or how it's developing, while “following up” often involves a more proactive step like asking for an update or taking additional measures based on the tracked information.
5. Pursuing further
- Analysis: “Pursuing further” is an extension of “pursuing” and means to continue to chase or seek something with even more determination. For example, “After getting some initial clues, the journalist was pursuing further to uncover the whole story.” It has a stronger sense of not being satisfied with the current state and wanting to dig deeper. “Following up” can sometimes imply a similar idea of going beyond the initial stage, but “pursuing further” is more explicit about the intensified effort and the intention to expand on what has already been started.
6. Revisiting
- Analysis: “Revisiting” means to go back to something that has been dealt with before, usually to review or take another look at it. For example, “The committee was revisiting the old proposal to see if any improvements could be made.” It implies a return to a previous situation or topic. In relation to “following up,” “revisiting” can be a way of following up on something that has already been discussed or handled, especially when you want to assess it again or make changes based on new circumstances.