proceeding paragraph

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "proceeding paragraph" is not correct in standard written English; the correct term is "preceding paragraph." You can use "preceding paragraph" when referring to the paragraph that comes before the current one in a text.
Example: "As mentioned in the preceding paragraph, the results of the study indicate a significant correlation."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Substitute 'P-1 prevention trial' for 'ATAC trial' in the proceeding paragraph and you will recall the parallel.

Breast Cancer Research

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Before proceeding to the next paragraph, let your mind wander wherever it wants to go.

The New York Times - Science

After these opening one-to-three paragraphs, proceed to specifics using one of two strategies.

Science Magazine

Depending on the type of article, you might give a paragraph with background information before proceeding into your supporting evidence.

WikiHow

Then I proceed to the next paragraph.

The Guardian - Books

Much harder to convey than Sebald's dark tides is the musical ingenuity of his writing, its Arcadias infiltrated by death, its moments close to astonished hilarity, its slow absorbing fascination as it proceeds, almost unbroken by paragraphs, in long seeming digressions that slowly pull tight like a noose.

The New York Times - Books

The narrator claims not to know why the white girl, Joan, is at Marcel's — and then proceeds to give us a paragraph from her point of view, which tells us exactly why.

The New Yorker

At the USA site, where the survey was completed online, the subjects read the introductory paragraph and then proceeded to answer the questions.

HIV/AIDS - Research and Palliative Care

The stereochemistry of the latter reaction was investigated with the aid of the cis-alkenol 107 (Scheme 29).[ 48] As expected (based on the discussion in the previous paragraph), the reaction proceeded as a syn-addition to produce 108.

Chemistry - A European Journal

It reads at first like third-person impersonal, authorial prose, but as the paragraph proceeds, we become aware that the narrative isn't impersonal: it is focalised for Jocelin.

The Guardian - Books

Any exercise of jurisdiction pursuant to paragraph 1 of this Article may proceed only in accordance with these procedures and mechanisms.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When referring to a paragraph that comes before the current one, consistently use "preceding paragraph", "previous paragraph", or "paragraph above" to maintain clarity and grammatical accuracy.

Common error

Using "proceeding paragraph" is grammatically incorrect; it is better to use "preceding paragraph" or "previous paragraph" for clarity and correctness.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "proceeding paragraph" attempts to identify a specific section of text, but it is grammatically unconventional. While 'proceeding' as a verb means to continue, its adjectival use with 'paragraph' is non-standard. Ludwig AI indicates that the conventional term is "preceding paragraph".

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Wiki

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "proceeding paragraph" may seem like a logical way to refer to a paragraph within a text, it is grammatically incorrect. According to Ludwig, the correct term is "preceding paragraph". Given that this phrase is uncommon and considered incorrect, particularly in formal writing, it's best to use alternatives like "preceding paragraph" or "previous paragraph" to maintain clarity and grammatical accuracy. Ludwig's analysis underscores the importance of using standard English conventions, especially in academic, scientific, or professional contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

preceding paragraph

Replaces "proceeding" with "preceding" to indicate the paragraph that comes before.

previous paragraph

Uses "previous" instead of "proceeding" to denote the paragraph mentioned earlier.

paragraph above

Substitutes "proceeding paragraph" with a simpler directional reference.

aforementioned paragraph

Replaces the original phrase with a more formal reference to a previously mentioned paragraph.

foregoing paragraph

Employs "foregoing" to signify the paragraph that comes before in the text.

paragraph in question

Focuses on a specific paragraph already under discussion.

prior paragraph

Utilizes "prior" to indicate the paragraph before the current one.

the paragraph before

A straightforward way to reference the preceding paragraph.

earlier paragraph

Uses "earlier" to refer to a paragraph mentioned at an earlier point in the text.

the paragraph just mentioned

Highlights a paragraph that was recently referenced.

FAQs

What's the correct way to refer to a paragraph that comes before the current one?

The correct phrases are "preceding paragraph" or "previous paragraph". Avoid using "proceeding paragraph".

What can I say instead of "proceeding paragraph"?

You can use alternatives like "preceding paragraph", "previous paragraph", or "paragraph above" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "proceeding paragraph" or "preceding paragraph"?

"preceding paragraph" is the correct term. "Proceeding paragraph" is not standard English.

Is "proceeding paragraph" ever correct?

While you might encounter "proceeding paragraph", it is generally considered grammatically incorrect. Opt for "preceding paragraph" or "previous paragraph" for formal writing.