Elsewhere

Elsewhere is an adverb in English that means in, to, or at another place, distinct from where the speaker is. It is used to refer to a location different from the one in focus, often contrasted with here or now. In data, policy, or formal writing, it may appear as “elsewhere in this document” to point to information located in another section.

Etymology and form: Elsewhere comes from the combination of else (other, different) and where (place). The element else traces back to Old English, and the compound developed in Middle English, becoming common in Modern English. It is most commonly written as a single word; two-word forms such as “somewhere else” are also used, with the latter often appearing in casual speech.

Usage and style: In everyday speech, people say “somewhere else” or “I’ll go elsewhere.” Elsewhere tends to be more formal or literary than the two-word form, though both are widely understood. It functions as an adverb or adverbial phrase and is frequently found in legal, academic, or narrative contexts to indicate an alternative location or to refer readers to other parts of a text.

Examples: “If you can’t find the files here, look elsewhere.” “The event will be held elsewhere, at a different venue.” “Some scholars argue that the evidence lies elsewhere in the record.”

See also: somewhere else, here, here and there, otherwise.