In the previous section

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "In the previous section" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer back to information or content that was discussed earlier in a document or text. Example: "As mentioned in the previous section, the results of the study indicate a significant correlation between the variables."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

In the previous section it was shown that.

Fixed Point Theory and Applications

In the previous section, the IDR exceeded 100%.

Agricultural and Food Economics

In the previous section the function v was additive.

Journal of Inequalities and Applications

In the previous section, acidic pH conditions favored pellet formation.

AMB Express

In the previous section, the general verification flow was introduced.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

In the previous section, collisions have been neglected.

Journal of Theoretical and Applied Physics

In the previous section, we focused on time-invariant channels.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

In the previous section, SDDV was gradually composed.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

In the previous section we have seen that Kettlewell's experiments both test and confirm a theory.

SEP

In the previous section we explained a framework for CRNs.

Plosone

Take the joke that you wrote in the previous section and take it apart.

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "in the previous section" to clearly direct your reader to specific information already presented, enhancing the logical flow of your writing and preventing redundancy.

Common error

Avoid using "in the previous section" when the reference is not immediately clear or when several sections intervene. Instead, specify the section title or provide a brief summary of the content to ensure clarity for the reader.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "in the previous section" functions as an adjunct, specifically a prepositional phrase acting as a discourse marker. It serves to connect ideas and guide the reader through the text by referencing earlier content. Ludwig provides numerous examples demonstrating this function across different contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

77%

News & Media

13%

Formal & Business

4%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

1%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "in the previous section" is a very common and grammatically correct phrase used to refer back to earlier parts of a text. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's widely employed across various fields, notably in science, news, and formal business contexts to maintain logical flow and coherence. When using this phrase, ensure the reference is clear to avoid confusing the reader. Alternatives like "in the preceding section" or "as discussed above" can be used depending on the level of formality required.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

In the preceding section

Uses "preceding" instead of "previous", offering a slightly more formal tone but retaining the same meaning.

In the prior section

Substitutes "prior" for "previous", keeping the meaning identical but altering the word choice.

In the aforementioned section

Employs "aforementioned" for a more formal and emphatic reference.

In the last section

Specifies the immediately preceding section, implying a direct sequence.

Earlier in this paper

More explicitly refers to the current document, useful in academic papers.

As discussed above

Refers to a discussion earlier in the text, being more general than specifying a section.

Refer to the section above

Instructs the reader to look at the section directly before the current one.

As noted previously

Highlights that something has already been mentioned, without specifying the exact location.

See the prior discussion

Points to an earlier discussion, broadening the scope beyond a specific section.

Before, we discussed

Directly states that a topic was covered earlier, offering a simpler alternative.

FAQs

What's a more formal alternative to "In the previous section"?

You can use phrases such as "in the preceding section" or "in the aforementioned section" for a more formal tone.

How do I use "In the previous section" correctly in a sentence?

"In the previous section" is used to refer back to information that has already been presented. For example: "In the previous section, we discussed the methodology used in this study."

Is it ever incorrect to use "In the previous section"?

It might be confusing if you use "In the previous section" when referring to content that is several sections away. In such cases, be more specific by mentioning the relevant section's title.

What can I say instead of "In the previous section" if I don't want to specify a section?

You could use general references like "as discussed above" or "as noted previously" if you don't need to refer to a specific section.