"the following" or nothing -- what is IM's preference? (was:"Next" or "the following"... )

[Chinell, David F (GE Indust, Security)]

PT:
 
When used to cross-reference material in the same work, "above" and "below" don't refer to spatial position. The mean the same as "earlier" and "later."
 
MW 11 includes this definition of below: "5 : lower on the same page or on a following page"
 
This convention is so well-established, that CMS doesn't even treat it. Open to any page to find such cross-references as: 
 
"8.85 What to capitalize 
... Terms lowercased below may appropriately be capitalized in certain works if done consistently. ..."
 
In other words, you don't have to revise anything to account for page breaks. If this still bothers you, you could follow the MS MoS suggestion and use "earlier" and "later."
 
Bear