Is there a word that can be used to mean two previous places? I want to reference something two paragraphs ago; former would work if it was only one before, and I cannot use penultimate because it may be confused with the second to last of the entire work.
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A couple of things come to mind.
The last two options do not specifically point to the paragraph, but the reader should be able to figure out which part of the text you are referring to. |
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"As stated previously," I think that you can trust your readers to have enough of an attention span to figure out which paragraph is being referred to in that case. If not there are either some serious problems with your writing style or you're writing something that's altogether far too meta (but I repeat myself). |
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In the very first comment of this blog, someone stated:
I believe that the one way to state "two paragraphs" before would be to do as the fellow did above: just say it! You'll be understood without doubt. Edit: One other way would be to use former. Former doesn't necessarily work only if it was the only one before. It refers to anything:
Thus, you could possibly say:
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I would simply say "the preceding two paragraphs" - that's clear and you can substitute any other number you like (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/precede) |
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Try penprevious (made up word, parallel with penultimate). |
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protected by RegDwighт♦ Mar 28 at 16:22
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