the above section

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "the above section" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a section of text that has been mentioned or presented earlier in the document. Example: "As discussed in the above section, the results indicate a significant improvement in performance."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

When Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn). asked him to affirm the above section of his memo, he did so repeatedly.

The Washington Post

Single strains microsatellite patterns were obtained for a collection composed by environmental and laboratory strains as described in the above section.

Nature

CS MEng requires that applicants meet the above section minimums but also have a minimum overall score of no less than 100.

Cornell University

(See the above section on Gödel's rationalism).

SEP

The above section kind of says it all, right?

TechCrunch

Following the advice in the above section will enliven your writing.

Forbes

Based on the above, section 230 offers the now infamous liability protection for online platforms.  .

TechCrunch

Therefore, all the results in the above section hold true.

Journal of Inequalities and Applications

As in the above section, we have the following lemma.

Boundary Value Problems

Everything you do and say online should align with the values and knowledge you outlined in the above section.

Forbes

The Amnesty provision described in the above section applies beyond the confines of the off-campus party registration policy.

Johns Hopkins University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Ensure that the section you are referring to is clearly identifiable and has been explicitly addressed earlier in the document. Avoid ambiguity by providing specific context if needed.

Common error

Avoid using "the above section" if the referenced section is not immediately preceding or easily identifiable. This can confuse readers. Instead, specify the section title or provide a brief description of its content.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "the above section" functions as a referential marker, directing the reader to a specific part of the text that has been previously presented. Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase is correct and usable in written English, serving to connect different parts of a document.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

45%

News & Media

27%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "the above section" is a common and grammatically correct phrase used to refer back to a previously mentioned part of a text. Ludwig AI confirms its usability. It's most frequently found in scientific, news, and academic contexts. While acceptable, ensure the reference is clear to avoid ambiguity. Alternatives such as "the preceding section" or "the earlier section" can provide greater specificity or formality. When using "the above section", clarity is key to maintaining effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

the preceding section

Focuses on the sequential order, specifying the section that came immediately before.

the previous section

Similar to "the preceding section", but slightly less formal.

the section mentioned above

More explicit, directly referencing the act of mentioning the section.

the earlier section

Refers to a section that appeared earlier in the text, without specifying immediate succession.

as discussed earlier

Focuses on the content of the section rather than the section itself.

in the foregoing section

A more formal and less common way to refer to the previous section.

the prior part

Uses the general term 'part' instead of 'section'.

what was stated before

Shifts the focus to the information presented, rather than the structural division.

the segment above

Uses the term 'segment' as a synonym for 'section'.

aforementioned section

A formal and somewhat archaic way to refer to something previously mentioned.

FAQs

How can I use "the above section" in a sentence?

You can use "the above section" to refer to a part of the text that has already been discussed, for example: "As detailed in "the above section", the methodology employed was primarily qualitative."

What is a more formal alternative to "the above section"?

A more formal alternative is "the preceding section" or "the foregoing section", although the latter is less common.

Is it acceptable to use "the above section" in academic writing?

Yes, it is acceptable, especially if the section being referenced is immediately prior. However, for greater clarity, you might specify the section's title or a key topic discussed within it.

What's the difference between "the above section" and "the previous section"?

The terms are largely interchangeable. However, "the previous section" might imply a section further back than what "the above section" typically suggests, though both refer to earlier parts of the text.