preceding paragraph

USAGE SUMMARY

"preceding paragraph" is a phrase that can be used in written English.
Example: Refer to the preceding paragraph for more information about the impact of this policy.

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Already, in the preceding paragraph, mention has begun of arts other than literature.

Encyclopedia Britannica

I stare in wonder at the preceding paragraph as I realize again that a clear idea from John Irving's novel made it intact into Lasse Hallstrom's film.

The New York Times

Still, given that possession, transfer or sale of cluster munitions are banned in scores of nations by international convention, the questions in the preceding paragraph begged answers.

The New York Times

A Markov process with stationary transition probabilities may or may not be a stationary process in the sense of the preceding paragraph.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Newton originally applied the idea of attractions and repulsions solely to the range of terrestrial phenomena mentioned in the preceding paragraph.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Taxpayers described in the preceding paragraph face a dilemma.

Forbes

The preceding paragraph is made up of hand waving arguments to motivate Eq. 1.

European Transport Research Review

The preceding paragraph contains singular terms that (apparently) refer to types.

SEP

Why, incidentally, do we have the word "classically" in the second sentence of the preceding paragraph?

SEP

The point made in the preceding paragraph is made in another way by Orrego (Orrego 2007).

SEP

This contradicts the observation in the last sentence of the preceding paragraph.

Pacific Journal of Mathematics for Industry

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "preceding paragraph" to clearly direct the reader's attention to a specific section of text, ensuring they understand which information you are referencing. For instance, "As mentioned in the "preceding paragraph", this approach yielded better results".

Common error

Ensure you are referring to the paragraph that comes before, not after. Double-check your reference to avoid misleading the reader. Instead of writing "As discussed in the "preceding paragraph", when referring to the next paragraph you should explicitly say "following paragraph"

Linguistic Context

The phrase "preceding paragraph" functions as a deictic expression, specifically an anaphoric reference, pointing back to a previously mentioned paragraph. Ludwig AI indicates its correctness and widespread use.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

38%

News & Media

22%

Encyclopedias

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

1%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "preceding paragraph" is a grammatically sound and commonly used phrase to refer to a paragraph that appears earlier in a text. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, this phrase serves as an effective way to maintain textual coherence and direct the reader to previously presented information. It is predominantly found in scientific, news, and encyclopedia articles, maintaining a neutral register suitable for diverse writing styles. Alternatives such as "paragraph above" or "previous paragraph" can be used depending on the specific context and desired tone. When using the phrase, it's crucial to avoid confusion with "following paragraph" and ensure accurate reference to maintain clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

immediately preceding paragraph

Adds emphasis on the direct adjacency of the paragraphs.

paragraph above

Uses a simpler and more direct wording.

previous paragraph

Employs a synonym for "preceding", maintaining the same grammatical structure.

aforementioned paragraph

Replaces "preceding" with a more formal term.

paragraph in question

Refers to a specific paragraph already under discussion.

foregoing paragraph

Uses a more archaic synonym for "preceding".

the earlier paragraph

Highlights the temporal aspect of the paragraph's position.

paragraph discussed earlier

Adds explicit reference to the timing of the discussion.

paragraph that comes before

Breaks down the concept into simpler terms.

passage above

Uses "passage" instead of "paragraph" for a slight variation in wording.

FAQs

How do I use "preceding paragraph" in a sentence?

You can use "preceding paragraph" to direct your reader's attention to information presented earlier in the text. For example: "The methodology, as described in the "preceding paragraph", was crucial to the experiment's success."

What are some alternatives to using "preceding paragraph"?

Alternatives include "paragraph above", "previous paragraph", or "aforementioned paragraph". The best choice depends on the context and desired level of formality.

Is it correct to use "preceeding paragraph" instead of "preceding paragraph"?

No, "preceeding" is a misspelling. The correct term is "preceding paragraph", with one 'e'.

What's the difference between "preceding paragraph" and "following paragraph"?

"Preceding paragraph" refers to the paragraph that comes before the current one, while "following paragraph" refers to the paragraph that comes after.