the earlier section

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "the earlier section" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer back to a part of a text that was mentioned previously, typically in academic or formal writing. Example: "As discussed in the earlier section, the results indicate a significant correlation between the variables."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

Encyclopedias

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

(See the earlier section The IBM 360).

Encyclopedia Britannica

Also see the earlier section on the Individually Designed Major program in Teaching Physical Science.

Stanford University

TODO: Add reference to the earlier section of the report on RMX implementation.

Stanford University

Hopefully, the democratization process discussed in the earlier section will work and Nigeria can begin to manage the situation effectively.

Stanford University

From this perspective, the earlier section metamorphoses into a hypertrophic preamble and advance apology for the self-indulgence of writing the story of one's childhood.

The New York Times - Books

Thus, as already discussed in the earlier section, sequence substitutions at the N-terminal region could artificially interfere with the elongation arrest.

Nature

The subdivision of civilizations surveyed differs somewhat arbitrarily from the earlier section by the omission of certain areas and the inclusion of Crete and Mycenaean Greece.

Britannica

Wozniak was an early and regular participant at Homebrew Computer Club meetings (see the earlier section, The Altair), which Jobs also occasionally attended.

Encyclopedia Britannica

By the end of Amalfitano's section a reader remains, like the critics in the earlier section, in possession of a paucity of real clues as to this novel's underlying "story," but suffused with dreadful implication.

The New York Times - Books

The creatures are generally addressed, now, with a vocative plural "you", but there's no puzzle in pairing up the rescue-narrative with the trapped creature of the earlier section.

The Guardian - Books

Calculators became available as a tool of commerce in 1820 (see the earlier section Digital calculators), and in 1874 the Remington Arms Company, Inc., sold the first commercially viable typewriter.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "the earlier section", ensure the reference is clear to avoid ambiguity. If there are multiple earlier sections, specify which one you are referring to by adding a title or a number.

Common error

Avoid using "the earlier section" if it could refer to multiple sections. Instead, specify the section by its title or number for clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "the earlier section" serves as a directional marker within a text, guiding the reader to a previously discussed segment. This is confirmed by Ludwig AI which validates the grammatical correctness and usability of the phrase.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

42%

Encyclopedias

14%

News & Media

13%

Less common in

Academia

8%

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "the earlier section" is a widely used and grammatically sound phrase for referring to a preceding part of a text. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's appropriate across various contexts, from scientific papers to encyclopedic entries. While its usage is more frequent in formal and scientific contexts, clarity is key: specify the section by title or number when necessary to avoid ambiguity. Consider alternatives like "the preceding section" or "the previous section" for variety.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

the preceding section

Replaces "earlier" with "preceding", indicating a more formal tone while maintaining the same meaning.

the previous section

Uses "previous" as a synonym for "earlier", providing a slightly more common alternative.

the prior section

Employs "prior" instead of "earlier", offering a similar meaning with a slightly more formal connotation.

the section above

Indicates location more directly than time, while maintaining the same function of referencing to a preceding portion of the text.

the foregoing section

Replaces "earlier" with "foregoing", lending a more formal and archaic tone.

the section discussed previously

Emphasizes that the section was already a subject of discussion, instead of only being located before the current one.

the already mentioned section

Highlights that the section has been referred to before, adding emphasis on prior reference.

the initial section

Refers to the beginning section, potentially the first one, instead of any section before the current one.

the introductory section

Identifies the referred section as serving the purpose of introduction, changing the reference from merely temporal to functional.

as detailed in the section above

Explicitly states that details are provided in the referenced section, adding emphasis on information provision.

FAQs

What can I say instead of "the earlier section"?

You can use alternatives like "the preceding section", "the previous section", or "the prior section" depending on the context.

How do I make it clear which section I'm referring to when I say "the earlier section"?

To avoid ambiguity, specify the section you're referencing by adding its title or number after "the earlier section", for example, "the earlier section on Methodology".

Is it okay to use "the earlier section" in formal writing?

Yes, "the earlier section" is appropriate for formal writing. However, consider using more precise language if necessary for clarity.

What's the difference between "the earlier section" and "the later section"?

"The earlier section" refers to a section that comes before the current one in a text, while "the later section" refers to a section that comes after.