grammar - "In the figure below" or "in the below figure"?


I frequently encounter this in technical documents and I am wondering which one is correct.



In the figure below



or



In the below figure




Answer



The first example is correct, not the second.


Below is generally used as an adverb or preposition, not as an adjective. See, e.g., Cambridge.


As such, it does not modify figure.


In the first example, it could be construed as either, based on what is implied.


As a preposition



In the figure below [this spot] . . .



Or as an adverb



In the figure [shown] below . . .



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