second to last paragraph

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "second to last paragraph" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to the paragraph that comes just before the final paragraph in a text or document. Example: "In the second to last paragraph, the author summarizes the main points of the argument."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

– The matter of attribution, as raised in the second to last paragraph, is a much broader science that merely determining the change in probability due to greenhouse-gas forcing….which is an inherently difficult and uncertain undertaking.

The New York Times

A new and unannouced Amazon Web Service to be called "SDS" is referenced on this Amazon web page discussing customer YouOS (see second to last paragraph – screen shot is also below) and is being tested with a select few Amazon partners.

TechCrunch

She waits until the second to last paragraph to "mention" that payday lenders are providing this wonderful service at "something like a 300% to 400% interest rate".

Huffington Post

Benedict Carey of the New York Times put the figures for bipolar disorder and ADHD -- the biggest and most impressive numbers in the study -- in the second to last paragraph.

Huffington Post

The second to last paragraph of page 4 is unclear.

F1000Research

We have added this finding to the second to last paragraph of the Results section.

eLife

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

44 human-written examples

Bob Giles, curator of the Nieman Foundation, thought the article was evenhanded with one exception: the second-to-last paragraph.

The New York Times

Mr Paterson seems to be referring to this article, which has a rather unfortunate quote from a Lehman Brothers executive in the second-to-last paragraph.

The Economist

The third-to-last paragraph in the paper recounted a huge number of studies from all over the world finding average urine mOsm/kg in children ranging from 392 mOsm/kg in Kenya to 964 in Sweden.

The New York Times

(This article has been corrected with the words "energy related" added to second-to-last paragraph).

Science Magazine

I believe this is what myRete is referencing in that second-to-last paragraph of their statement.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider using "penultimate paragraph" in formal writing for a more concise and sophisticated tone.

Common error

Avoid ambiguity by clearly distinguishing "second to last paragraph" from other references like "third to last paragraph" or "last paragraph". Ensure your description is unambiguous to prevent misinterpretations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "second to last paragraph" functions as a locative adverbial, specifying the position of a particular piece of information within a written text. As Ludwig AI confirms, this expression is grammatically sound and widely used.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "second to last paragraph" serves as a directional marker, guiding readers to a specific section within a text. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and general usability. While alternatives like "penultimate paragraph" exist for a more formal tone, "second to last paragraph" is widely understood and appropriate for various contexts. Its usage spans across news, science, and other domains, making it a versatile tool for clear communication. As demonstrated by the examples found by Ludwig, its accurate use ensures that readers can easily locate and understand the intended information.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

next to last paragraph

Uses a more common and easily understandable phrasing.

penultimate paragraph

Replaces the entire phrase with a single, more formal word.

paragraph before the last

Emphasizes the position relative to the final paragraph.

second from the end paragraph

Offers a slightly more descriptive way to specify the paragraph's location.

the preceding paragraph

Focuses on the sequence, indicating the paragraph that comes directly before the final one.

ante-penultimate paragraph

A less common and more technical synonym for penultimate, but correct.

the paragraph immediately before the conclusion

Highlights the paragraph's position leading into the concluding section.

the second to last section

Change from paragraph to section in cases when the text is segmented in Sections instead of Paragraphs.

the segment before the final one

Replace 'paragraph' with 'segment', in case there is a need to use a hypernym.

second from the tail paragraph

Replace 'end' with 'tail', maintaining the meaning.

FAQs

What does "second to last paragraph" mean?

The phrase "second to last paragraph" refers to the paragraph that appears immediately before the final paragraph in a document or text.

Is it correct to say "second to last paragraph"?

Yes, it is grammatically correct and commonly understood. A more formal alternative is "penultimate paragraph".

What is another way to say "second to last paragraph"?

Alternatives include "next to last paragraph" or "paragraph before the last".

How can I use "second to last paragraph" in a sentence?

Example: "The key argument is presented in the "second to last paragraph" of the introduction."