a few sections before

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a few sections before" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to content or information that was mentioned earlier in a document or text, specifically a few sections prior to the current point of reference. Example: "As discussed a few sections before, the methodology we used was based on qualitative research."

✓ Grammatically correct

Wiki

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Wait a few sections before reeling in a fish.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Spread out a few sections of newspaper on the floor.

WikiHow

Divide your hair into a few sections and twist the sections up.

WikiHow

The stern section, now crowded with men, floated for a few minutes before sinking.

Wikipedia

A few months before, an N.Y.U.

The New Yorker

Not a few nights before".

The New Yorker

A few days before, send a reminder.

WikiHow

Free-floating coronal sections were washed in 0.1 M PB and a few selected sections were counterstained with 4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole solution (DAPI, 1 10,000, Invitrogen) before being mounted with mowiol® (Sigma-Aldrich) on glass.

Nature

Pileipellis portions of dried specimens were soaked in 3% KOH for a few minutes before sectioning.

BMC Evolutionary Biology

True, there were a few exhilarating sections.

The New York Times - Arts

The Heights includes a few smaller sections.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a few sections before", ensure that the document or text is clearly divided into sections for easy reference. This prevents ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "a few sections before" if the sections aren't clearly numbered or labeled, as this can confuse the reader and make it difficult to find the referenced information.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a few sections before" functions as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb, indicating a temporal relationship between the current point and something discussed earlier in a text. According to Ludwig, it is usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Wiki

33%

Science

34%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a few sections before" is a grammatically correct and usable adverbial phrase used to reference earlier parts of a document. Ludwig AI confirms its acceptability. While the frequency is rare, it appears across a variety of contexts. For more formal or academic writing, consider alternatives such as "some sections prior" or using specific section numbers. Ensure clear section divisions within the text for effective usage.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a couple of sections before

Replaces "a few" with "a couple of", which is nearly synonymous.

a few sections earlier

Substitutes "before" with "earlier", keeping the temporal reference but with a different word choice.

a small number of sections before

Replaces "a few" with "a small number of", providing a more descriptive quantification.

some sections prior

Replaces "a few" with "some" and "before" with "prior", maintaining the meaning while sounding more formal.

a few segments prior

Substitutes "sections" with "segments", which can be used interchangeably depending on the context and "before" with "prior".

in the preceding sections

Uses more formal vocabulary to indicate the sections that came before.

several sections back

Uses "several" instead of "a few", implying a slightly larger number of sections, and "back" instead of "before".

a handful of sections earlier

Employs "a handful of" in place of "a few", adding a slightly more informal tone and "earlier" in place of "before".

sections preceding this one

Rephrases the concept to be more explicit about the sections coming before the current one.

in previous sections

Simplifies the phrase to refer to sections that came before, without specifying the exact number.

FAQs

How can I use "a few sections before" in a sentence?

You can use "a few sections before" to refer back to information presented earlier in a document. For example: "As detailed "a few sections before", the methodology involves qualitative analysis."

What's a more formal alternative to "a few sections before"?

A more formal alternative is "some sections prior" or "in the preceding sections". These options provide a similar meaning but with a more professional tone.

Is it okay to use "a few sections before" in academic writing?

While acceptable, using more precise references like "in Section 2.3" is preferable in academic writing for clarity. Alternatively, you can use "some sections prior".

Can I use "a few sections before" if the document isn't divided into numbered sections?

It's best to avoid "a few sections before" if the document lacks clear section divisions, as it may cause confusion. Consider rephrasing to be more explicit or adding section numbers.