preceding this line

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "preceding this line" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to information or text that comes before the current line in a document or conversation. Example: "The instructions for the task are outlined in the text preceding this line."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

However, in the line preceding this large diagram there may be a typo in the word "sequences" in your printing of the book.

Cornell University

Microbiology results from the 3 months preceding this study identified six line-related infections.

Critical Care

What is currency is the  line of decisions preceding this one: "The history of the law's treatment of assisted suicide in this country has been and continues to be the rejection of nearly all efforts to permit it".

The New York Times

There are several other lines of error traceback preceding this one in the apache error log.

Stanford University

Had this line been excluded, or had a # preceded the line, the autocoding Perl script would have parsed the input file using the default newline record separator.

BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making

Occasionally, various leaders of the movement broke out of the line to join interviewers from the television networks, which took turns using a camera truck that preceded the line of march.

The New Yorker

The real issue is that it is wrong to assume that points precede lines, or lines surfaces, etc. Categorially speaking, what comes first is the entire system of dimensions.

SEP

Fold the preceding dotted line up and crease with your finger.

WikiHow

Fold up the last preceding dotted line on the drawbridge tab and crease with your finger.

WikiHow

I'm tempted to tell him he's missing the point, that the line's meaningless without its context, its preceding line.

The Guardian - Arts

This is mainly explained by the fact that in clinical trials, treatments are evaluated individually across a line of treatment, and not in sequence with a preceding or subsequent line of treatment.

BMC Health Services Research

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "preceding this line", ensure the context clearly establishes which specific line you are referring to. Ambiguity can arise if the reader is unsure about the reference point.

Common error

Avoid using "preceding this line" without clearly establishing what 'this line' refers to. Provide context so that readers can easily identify the specific line in question.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "preceding this line" functions as a deictic marker, pointing to a specific segment of text that appears prior to the current one. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's used to create a reference to previous information.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "preceding this line" is a grammatically sound and usable English expression used to reference prior text. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness. Though examples are missing from the provided data, it's expected to be common in academic, news, and business contexts. It functions as a deictic marker, aiding coherence by linking back to previous statements. When using the phrase, clarity is key, as any ambiguity in identifying the referenced line can undermine its effectiveness. Consider alternatives such as "before this line" for simpler phrasing or "aforementioned line" for increased formality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

before this line

Replaces 'preceding' with 'before', focusing on temporal or spatial order.

above this line

Indicates a position directly above the current line.

the line before this one

Specifies the immediately preceding line.

in the previous line

Refers to the line that came immediately before.

the prior line

Uses 'prior' to indicate something that came before in sequence.

the aforementioned line

Emphasizes that the line was already mentioned.

the line referenced earlier

Points to a line that was cited previously.

the line just before

Highlights the immediacy of the line's occurrence.

the line immediately preceding

Adds emphasis on the direct sequence and order of the referred line.

the line that comes before this

Describes that the specific line happened at an earlier point than the present line.

FAQs

How can I use "preceding this line" in a sentence?

You can use "preceding this line" to refer to a statement or instruction that appears before the current one in a text. For example, "The explanation builds upon the concept discussed in the text "before this line"".

What is a more formal alternative to "preceding this line"?

A more formal alternative could be "aforementioned line" or "previously stated line". For example, "The data supports the conclusion drawn in the "aforementioned line"".

Is it ever incorrect to use the phrase "preceding this line"?

The phrase "preceding this line" is generally correct. However, it can be confusing if the reader is unsure which line is being referenced. Ensure the context is clear.

What's the difference between "preceding this line" and "above this line"?

"Preceding this line" refers to the line that came before in sequence, while "above this line" typically refers to a line that is physically above the current one on a page. The choice depends on whether you're emphasizing sequence or spatial position.