the second largest economy, just behind/after Germany

[Daniellll]

Hi everyone.

When it comes to statistical comparisons, I have seen both before and after are fairly interchangeably used.
e.g Britain has the second largest economy in Europe, just behind Germany.
The lion is the second largest living cat after/next to/second only to the tiger.
In these examples, I do not find any chronological or positional implication.

Could you please explain to me how these are normally used in sentences?
Thank you!

 

[Uncle Jack]

In these examples, I do not find any chronological or positional implication.

I agree. I don't think that there is much of a preference when it comes to ranking. I think "behind" is more common, but as you have found, both "behind" and "after" are used.

The lion is the second largest living cat after/next to/second only to the tiger.

This sentence requires a comma between "cat" and "after". The "after" (or next to" or "second only to") phrase provides additional, non-essential information. You could, if you want, make the "after" phrase provide essential information, but then you shouldn't include "second":

The lion is the largest living cat after the tiger.​

This does, of course, assume that tigers are bigger than lions. Are they?

 

[Daniellll]

I agree. I don't think that there is much of a preference when it comes to ranking. I think "behind" is more common, but as you have found, both "behind" and "after" are used.

This sentence requires a comma between "cat" and "after". The "after" (or next to" or "second only to") phrase provides additional, non-essential information. You could, if you want, make the "after" phrase provide essential information, but then you shouldn't include "second":

The lion is the largest living cat after the tiger.​

This does, of course, assume that tigers are bigger than lions. Are they?

Thank you so much for quick replies Uncle Jack
As far as I understand, when it comes to ranking, both behind and after are commonly used to give the most important aspect of something in comparisons.
Is that correct?

 

[Uncle Jack]

As far as I understand, when it comes to ranking, both behind and after are commonly used to give the most important aspect of something in comparisons.
Is that correct?

Yes, as far as I can tell., but I can't think of many examples off the top of my head.

If there is any suggestion of a race, then use "behind", for position (we usually think of the positions of runners, rather than their times).

 

[Daniellll]

Yes, as far as I can tell., but I can't think of many examples off the top of my head.

If there is any suggestion of a race, then use "behind", for position (we usually think of the positions of runners, rather than their times).

Thank you so much Uncle Jack!