ENGLISH
REFERENCE

as follows

idiom
Meaning

you use this to introduce a list or an explanation that comes next.


Origin

disputed origin

Originally an impersonal construction = ‘as it follows’.

Examples
SIMPLE

The rules for the game are as follows.

CONTEXTUAL

The instructions for the project are as follows: finish the report, email the team, and update the website.

COMPLEX

The committee outlined the new safety protocols, which are as follows: all staff must wear protective gear and report any equipment malfunctions immediately.

Last updated April 22, 2026