I formerly lived

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "I formerly lived" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to a place where you used to reside in the past. Example: "I formerly lived in New York before moving to California."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Formal & Business

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

In my case, UPS wanted me to name the city I'd formerly lived in.

Los Angeles Times

She was 45 and had formerly lived in Edinburgh and London.

The New York Times

She was 95 and formerly lived in Brooklyn.

The New York Times

Dr. Chu also formerly lived in Geneva and Bellemead, N.J.

The New York Times

He was 83 and formerly lived in Tarrytown, N.Y.

The New York Times - Arts

He was 90 and formerly lived in Washington and New Rochelle, N.Y.

The New York Times

She and her family formerly lived in Port Washington, NY.

The New York Times

He was 85 and formerly lived in Golden, Colo.

The New York Times

With the exception of the central areas where Europeans formerly lived, the city has grown haphazardly.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Mrs. Lorentz, who lived in a nursing home in Rye, formerly lived in Armonk, N.Y.

The New York Times

And Sophie Stigliano, the Center for Architecture's director of exhibitions, is German and formerly lived in Berlin.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider your audience: if the context is informal, simpler phrases like "I used to live" may be more appropriate.

Common error

Do not use "I formerly lived" without specifying the location, or when the time frame is unclear. For instance, avoid saying just "I formerly lived here"; instead specify "I formerly lived here before 2010" to avoid confusion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I formerly lived" functions as a statement of past residence. It indicates that the speaker resided in a particular place at some point in the past. This is evident from Ludwig examples where the phrase is consistently used to provide context about someone's previous place of living.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

53%

Encyclopedias

13%

Formal & Business

13%

Less common in

Wiki

11%

Science

6%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "I formerly lived" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to indicate a past residence, as confirmed by Ludwig. It appears most commonly in news and media contexts, often to provide background information or explain a change in location. While it can be used in many situations, simpler alternatives like "I used to live" may be more suitable for informal settings. It's essential to provide a specific location after the phrase to ensure clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I used to live

Uses the common 'used to' construction instead of 'formerly'.

I previously lived

Replaces 'formerly' with 'previously', a direct synonym.

I once resided

Substitutes 'lived' with 'resided' and 'formerly' with 'once', indicating a single past instance.

I had lived

Uses the past perfect tense to emphasize the completion of living in a place before another event.

I resided in the past

Rephrases the concept to emphasize the past nature of the residence.

I lived there before

Simplifies the sentence structure while maintaining the core meaning.

I was a resident of

Changes the structure to focus on being a resident.

My former residence was

Shifts the focus to the residence rather than the act of living.

I am an ex-resident of

Uses 'ex-resident' to specify a past residential status.

I had my home in

Emphasizes having a home in a particular place in the past.

FAQs

What's a simple alternative to "I formerly lived"?

You can use phrases like "I used to live" or "I previously lived" for a less formal tone.

How do I use "I formerly lived" in a sentence?

Use "I formerly lived" to indicate a past residence, typically followed by a specific location. Example: "I formerly lived in Chicago before relocating to Seattle."

Is "I formerly lived" interchangeable with "I lived"?

While both indicate past residence, "I formerly lived" implies a more significant or longer-term past residence, whereas "I lived" can refer to a shorter period.

What is the difference between "I formerly lived" and "I once lived"?

"I formerly lived" suggests a more established period of residence. "I once lived" suggests a single occasion or a less permanent residence. For example, "I once lived in a tent", implies it was a short experience.