followingbelowmentioned

Followingbelowmentioned is a term used in formal or technical writing to indicate elements that will be described or enumerated later in the document. It functions as a reference to items that are "as follows below" and is sometimes encountered in contracts, policies, or automated drafting templates.

Etymology and usage context: The term is a coinage derived from the words following and below mentioned, reflecting a drafting style that aims to avoid repetition. It is not widely standardized and may be encountered in particular organizations, jurisdictions, or templated forms rather than as a general writing convention.

Practical considerations: In standard editorial practice, the phrase is often considered awkward or unclear. Style guides commonly recommend clearer alternatives such as "the following items," "as listed below," or simply "below." When the term is used, it is important to ensure that the items it refers to are clearly presented in a subsequent section to prevent ambiguity. In legal or policy documents, precision is valued, so introducing the term with a definitional sentence can help avoid misinterpretation.

Variants and related terms: The phrase may appear in hyphenated form as below-mentioned or be avoided altogether in favor of more direct phrasing. Related expressions include the phrase "the following," "as below," and "aforementioned," which refer to different points in the text.

Examples: The contract states: "The followingbelowmentioned conditions shall apply to all deliveries." More clearly written as: "The following conditions shall apply to all deliveries." Another example uses: "The below-mentioned items are required," which can be rewritten as "The items listed below are required."

See also: below, following, mentioned, aforementioned, drafting style.