Follow up or Follow-up: Which Is Correct?
Updated · Which One Is Correct editorial team
Quick answer: To use the phrase correctly, you must distinguish between the verb and the noun. When you mean to perform an action, use two words: please follow up with them. However, when you refer to the meeting itself or describe something related to it, use a hyphen: schedule a follow-up call.
The Short Answer
Follow up as two words is the correct form when used as a verb to mean performing an action, such as requesting further information.
People often confuse these forms because they sound identical, but the spelling changes depending on whether the phrase acts as a command or describes a specific item in a list.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Form | Status | Use it when |
|---|---|---|
| follow up | Verb | When you are performing an action |
| follow-up | Noun or Adjective | When referring to the event or describing a meeting |
Correct Example Sentences
- The team will follow up on the proposal tomorrow.
- Please send a follow-up email to confirm the details.
- We need to schedule a follow-up meeting next week.
- Did you follow up with the client yet?
- This follow-up call is essential for closing the sale.
- The manager plans to follow up on the report.
- Our follow-up survey arrived in the mail.
- She will follow up with the hiring committee.
- A quick follow-up note is appreciated here.
- The follow-up session starts at noon.
Common Mistakes and Fixes
- Please follow-up with me regarding the invoice.
- Please follow up with me regarding the invoice.
- We need a follow up meeting this afternoon.
- We need a follow-up meeting this afternoon.
- Did she follow-up on the request?
- Did she follow up on the request?
- The next follow up is scheduled for Monday.
- The next follow-up is scheduled for Monday.
- I will follow-up later today.
- I will follow up later today.
- Send a follow up to the team.
- Send a follow-up to the team.
A Quick Test You Can Use
Replace the phrase with a synonym like 'check in' or 'ask about' to see if it still makes sense as an action; if it does, use two words. If the phrase names the event itself or describes a noun, add a hyphen to make it a follow-up.
Related Word Pairs
- Sign up vs Sign-up
- Sign up is the verb for registering, while sign-up is the noun for the registration process.
- Check in vs Check-in
- Check in is the action of arriving, whereas check-in is the desk or event where you arrive.
- Look up vs Look-up
- Look up is the verb for searching, and look-up is the noun for the search result.
- Log in vs Log-in
- Log in is the verb for accessing a system, and log-in is the noun for the access record.
- Give up vs Give-up
- Give up is the verb for surrendering, and give-up is the noun for the act of surrendering.
Frequently Asked Questions
When do I use a hyphen in follow-up?
You use a hyphen when the word acts as a noun, like a follow-up meeting, or as an adjective modifying another noun, such as a follow-up call. The hyphen connects the two parts to show they form a single concept.
Can follow up ever be a noun?
No, follow up is strictly a verb meaning to perform an action. If you need a noun to refer to the event or item, you must change the spelling to follow-up with a hyphen.
Is it ever correct to write follow-up as two separate words as a noun?
Writing follow-up as two separate words when referring to the event or item is incorrect. The hyphen is required in that context to indicate it is a single noun or adjective.
What is the difference in pronunciation?
The pronunciation is identical for both forms. The only difference lies in the spelling and grammatical function, so you must rely on the context of the sentence to choose the correct form.
