Following 可當介系詞、形容詞和名詞用。這個字並非動詞 follow (聽從，遵循，遵從；理解，明白；[社群媒體上的] 追蹤，關注) 的現在分詞，而是單獨存在的一個字。
Following 用作介系詞時意為「在…之後」，後接名詞片語，其前不可有定冠詞 the 或所有格代名詞。例如：
- The team blossomed following the selection and recruitment of the new players. (球隊在遴選和招募新球員後大放異彩) (正)
- Following the banquet, there will be a costume party. (宴會之後將有一場化裝舞會) (正) － costume party 為美式英語。英式英語的化裝舞會叫做 fancy-dress party。
The following banquet, there will be a costume party. (誤) - Following my teaching career, I’d like to be a writer of children’s books. (教書生涯結束後，我想當兒童文學作家) (正)
My following teaching career, I’d like to be a writer of children’s books. (誤)