Meaning & use
middle section
Last updated
Meaning
phrasecountable
the part in the center of something that is divided into parts, especially a text, building, or event
Grammar: Often used with 'the' and followed by 'of': the middle section of the book.
Patterns
- the middle section of something
- in the middle section
The middle section of the report gives the detailed figures.
We sat in the middle section of the theater, close to the stage.
The middle section of the race is the hardest because the hills are steep.
Word forms
| plural | middle sections |
|---|
Common combinations
- the middle section of a book
- The middle section of the book explains the main theory.
- in the middle section
- Her seat was in the middle section, between the two aisles.
- the middle section of the movie
- The middle section of the movie felt a little slow.
- divide into sections
- The teacher divided the essay into three sections.
Synonyms and how they differ
- middle part
- Very similar, but 'part' is more general and can be used for anything, while 'section' suggests a clear division.
- center
- Refers to the exact middle point or area, not a divided portion; use 'center' for a physical midpoint.
- midsection
- Usually means the middle of the human body; avoid it for texts or buildings.
Commonly confused: middle section or midsection?
middle section vs midsection
As one word, 'midsection' often means the stomach area of the body. 'Middle section' is two words and means a central part of something divided.
Practice
The middle section ___ the essay discusses the causes of the war.
Choose one answer.
'Section of' is the correct pattern to show the whole that contains the part. 'Section in' would describe a location, not a part of a whole, and 'for' and 'with' do not fit this meaning.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “middle section”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.