Below

Below is a preposition or an adverb.

Below meaning ‘lower than’

We use below most commonly as a preposition meaning ‘lower than’. It has a similar meaning to under. The opposite of below is above. We use it when there is no contact between people or things:

[a teacher talking to a class]

Open your exercise book on page 27. Just below the picture there are some questions. Look at the picture and answer the questions.

There was a big clock below the painting.

When the adverb below is used to modify a noun, it follows the noun:

The apartment below is owned by a French couple.

We lived up in the mountains and the nearest town below was half an hour’s drive.

We use the adverb below when referring to the lower level or deck of a boat or ship:

[talking about a boat]

It was a wonderful little boat. We spent most of our time fishing and watching the sea. We’d go below to sleep and to eat.

Below with numbers, amounts or statistics

When we talk about numbers, amounts or statistics being at a lower level, we use below more than under:

Inflation has fallen below 5% for the first time in six years.

The company’s profits in 2008 were below what they had hoped for.

Below referring forward in writing

In formal writing, we use below to refer to something that we will mention or show later:

In the figure below, the results show that 54% of the rats tested were carrying the antibody …

There has been much discussion and debate about global warming (see below).

Below: typical error

We don’t use below when one thing touches or covers or hides something else; we usually use under instead:

Under a white coat, she wore an amazing red dress.

Not: Below a white coat …

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