How to use "in the wake of"

What Does "in the wake of" Mean?

• Grammatical function: Expresses a consequence or result that follows an event or situation, indicating a cause-and-effect relationship.
• Typical sentence position: Initial or medial.
• Register: Formal.

How to Use It

• Syntactic patterns: "In the wake of" is typically followed by a noun or noun phrase representing the event or situation that caused the subsequent outcome. What precedes it is often a clause describing the consequence.
• Punctuation rules: When used at the beginning of a sentence, "in the wake of" is usually followed by a comma. When it appears mid-sentence, commas are used depending on whether the phrase is essential to the sentence's meaning.
• Grammatical flexibility: It can start a sentence or appear within a clause. It cannot be directly negated, but the clause describing the consequence can be.
• What sounds unnatural or incorrect: Using "in the wake of" to describe simultaneous events or events that are not causally related sounds unnatural. Also, using it in very informal contexts can sound overly formal.

Real-World Examples

"Today, in the wake of the C.E.O." — The New Yorker

"Mr. Coulson resigned in the wake of the scandal." — The New York Times

"But in the wake of the financial crisis, cynicism rules." — The New York Times

"In the wake of such an accident, memories are everywhere." — The New York Times

"In the wake of independence, the network broke down." — The Economist

Examples sourced from https://ludwig.guru/s/in+the+wake+of

Similar Phrases and Alternatives

Phrase	Context
as a consequence of	More formal and emphasizes the direct causal link.
following	More neutral and less emphatic than "in the wake of."
as a result of	Indicates a direct cause-and-effect relationship.
subsequent to	Formal and emphasizes the temporal sequence.
in the aftermath of	Implies a period of chaos or disruption following the event.
because of	A simpler and more direct way to express causality.
on account of	Slightly formal, indicates a reason or cause.

Common Mistakes

• Using "in the wake of" to describe events happening at the same time, rather than sequentially, is incorrect.
• Forgetting the comma after the phrase when it begins a sentence is a common punctuation error.
• Learners often confuse "in the wake of" with phrases like "in light of" or incorrectly use it in contexts where a simpler preposition like "after" would be more appropriate, leading to overly formal or awkward phrasing.

Quick-Reference Summary

Expression	Function	Register	Typical Position
in the wake of	Indicates a consequence or result following an event	Formal	Initial or medial

FAQs

Where can "in the wake of" appear in a sentence?

"In the wake of" can be used at the beginning of a sentence, followed by a comma, or within the sentence, typically before the main clause. Using it sentence-initially emphasizes the cause-and-effect relationship. For example: "In the wake of the storm, many homes were damaged." or "Many homes were damaged in the wake of the storm."

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How does "in the wake of" differ from "as a result of"?

Both "in the wake of" and "as a result of" indicate a cause-and-effect relationship, but "in the wake of" often implies a more significant or widespread impact following an event. "As a result of" is generally more neutral and can be used in a wider range of contexts, while "in the wake of" is typically reserved for more formal situations and events with notable consequences.

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How can I avoid using "in the wake of" incorrectly?

To avoid misusing "in the wake of", ensure that the phrase accurately reflects a cause-and-effect relationship where the event following "in the wake of" is a direct consequence of the preceding event. If a simpler preposition like "after" or "following" adequately conveys the meaning without sounding overly formal, it might be a better choice. Remember that context is key when choosing connectives.