the preceding sentence

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "the preceding sentence" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer back to a sentence that was mentioned just before the current one, often for clarification or emphasis. Example: "The preceding sentence outlines the main argument of the paper, which is crucial for understanding the author's perspective."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

42 human-written examples

Nothing about the preceding sentence would have seemed surprising back in the spring of 2012.

The Guardian - Sport

They offered an answer in the telephone news briefing linked in the preceding sentence.

The New York Times

(I realize this dates me, but I also can't read the preceding sentence without wanting a scoop of this).

The New York Times

But the more common proprietary lease substitutes the word "and" for the word "or" in the preceding sentence.

The New York Times

If there are two nouns in the preceding sentence you can say 'former' and 'latter'; more than two and it becomes 'first' and 'last'last

The Guardian - Books

There was a clue in the preceding sentence: But if he succeeded in repealing the reform law, which has many provisions that hold down costs for Medicare enrollees, most beneficiaries would see their annual premiums and cost-sharing go up.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

18 human-written examples

The oddity of the preceding sentences explain why Mr. Te'o has received so much attention in recent days, and why the first interview of him has been so hotly pursued.

The New York Times

A general high rate of use of pronouns to refer to subjects rather than other grammatical relations was independently attested in Experiment 1, with nearly 80%% of the pronouns in S2 continuations being linked to NPs in the preceding sentences' subject position.

Lingua Sinica

The uniqueness of the constructed sequence comes from the preceding sentences, properties of the simplex containing (v^{n}), and the fact that each ((n-2))-face in the (relative) interior of S is shared by exactly two simplices of the triangulation.

Journal of Inequalities and Applications

The thesis may be the first sentence of the opening paragraph, but it is often built up to by the preceding sentences and presented as the last sentence of the paragraph.

WikiHow

In 3 she recasts this preceding sentence with an inference, so most people would be asleep, and in 4 6 she rephrases the current sentence.

Functional Linguistics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

For clarity in complex writing, instead of just saying "the preceding sentence," consider briefly restating part of it or its main idea to avoid confusion.

Common error

Avoid using "the preceding sentence" when it's unclear which sentence you mean. If the paragraph is long or complex, readers might lose track. Instead, be more specific or rephrase the key point of the earlier sentence.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "the preceding sentence" functions as a referential expression, specifically an anaphoric reference. It points back to a previously mentioned sentence within the text. Ludwig AI confirms its proper use in context for clarification or emphasis.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

38%

News & Media

30%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "the preceding sentence" is a commonly used phrase to refer back to the sentence immediately before the current one. According to Ludwig, this phrase is grammatically correct and suitable for various contexts, from scientific and academic writing to news articles. While alternatives like "the previous sentence" or "the earlier sentence" exist, it's important to ensure clarity in sentence reference to avoid vagueness. The frequency of this phrase underscores its importance in maintaining coherence and avoiding redundancy in written communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

the immediately preceding sentence

Adds emphasis to the proximity of the sentence being referenced.

the prior sentence

Replaces "preceding" with "prior", indicating an earlier position in time or order.

the previous sentence

Substitutes "preceding" with "previous", emphasizing the immediately prior nature of the sentence.

the sentence before

Uses a simpler, more direct phrasing to indicate the sentence that comes before the current one.

the foregoing sentence

Employs "foregoing" as a more formal synonym for "preceding", suitable for academic or legal contexts.

the earlier sentence

Replaces "preceding" with "earlier", highlighting its position in the sequence of sentences.

the sentence mentioned above

Indicates that the referenced sentence has been previously discussed.

the sentence just before this one

A more informal way to indicate the sentence directly before the current sentence.

the statement above

Uses "statement" instead of "sentence", broadening the reference to include any form of expression.

the above-mentioned sentence

A more formal way to refer to a sentence that has already been referenced.

FAQs

What does "the preceding sentence" mean?

The phrase "the preceding sentence" refers to the sentence that comes immediately before the current sentence in a piece of writing. It's used to reference something that was stated earlier.

How can I use "the preceding sentence" in a sentence?

You can use "the preceding sentence" to refer back to a point, clarify an idea, or add emphasis. For example: "The preceding sentence outlines the problem; now, let's explore the solutions."

What is a more formal alternative to "the preceding sentence"?

A more formal alternative is "the foregoing sentence". This is often used in academic or legal writing.

Is there a simpler way to say "the preceding sentence"?

Yes, you can say "the previous sentence" or "the sentence before". These options are less formal but equally clear.