belowmentioned

Belowmentioned is a term used in formal or legal writing to refer to items that are named or described later in the document. In standard practice, the term is hyphenated as below-mentioned to function as a compound adjective preceding a noun; other forms exist but are less common.

Origin and usage: The word combines below, a preposition indicating position, with mentioned, the past participle used as an adjective. As a modifier, it points readers to material presented subsequently in the text. When used in this way, it typically appears immediately before the noun: the below-mentioned clauses are binding or the below-mentioned parties agree to. Alternatively, many authors prefer the terms mentioned below (two words) for clarity, especially in less formal writing.

Style and variations: Different style guides diverge on hyphenation and ordering. Chicago Manual of Style tends to advocate for below-mentioned when the modifier precedes the noun, but also accepts the terms mentioned below as a natural alternative. Some American usage guides discourage the closed compound altogether, recommending the terms mentioned below instead of the below-mentioned terms. The form belowmentioned (one word) is rarely accepted and can be perceived as nonstandard.

Notes and context: The term is most common in contracts, legal notices, and technical documents, where precise cross-referencing is important. In general prose, writers usually opt for the more explicit the terms/clauses/parties mentioned below.