I formerly taught

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "I formerly taught" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a past experience of teaching, indicating that you no longer teach. Example: "I formerly taught high school mathematics before transitioning to a different career."

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

News & Media

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

(N22) Legislation   I think that we are not really formerly taught about the legal requirements about forms and transport issues (M33)  .

International Journal of Emergency Medicine

"I get so personally interested in these students," says Dr. Stephenson, who formerly taught at the University of Texas at Austin and Northland College in Ashland, Wis.

The New York Times

Han formerly taught moral education in Korea.

Stanford University

He formerly taught at the Kellogg School of Management (1998-2014).

Stanford University

Bollier is a retired anesthesiologist, who also formerly taught bioethics.

The New York Times

He formerly taught at Tulane University and the University of Virginia.

Yale University

He formerly taught at the University of Chicago's Booth School of Business.

Stanford University

He formerly taught in Implementing Improvement Strategies: Dynamic Work Design.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

He formerly taught at Oxford, and now teaches at the University of London.

The New York Times

"Sure, it improves things," said Mr. Valdes, who formerly taught computer science at Princeton.

The New York Times - Tech

Carter notes that Obama, who formerly taught constitutional law, has been quite explicit on the subject of just wars.

The New York Times - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Follow "I formerly taught" with specific details about the subject, level, and institution to provide context and showcase your expertise.

Common error

Avoid using "I formerly taught" if you are still teaching or plan to resume teaching soon. "Formerly" implies a concluded role, so choose alternatives like "I have taught" if the experience is ongoing or may resume.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I formerly taught" functions as a statement of past professional experience. It concisely communicates that the speaker held a teaching position at some point but is no longer in that role. As Ludwig AI points out, this is a usable English phrase.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

Science

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News & Media

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Formal & Business

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Less common in

Science

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News & Media

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "I formerly taught" is a grammatically sound and clear way to express past teaching experience. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in English. While more formal than alternatives like "I used to teach", it's suitable for professional contexts. When using this phrase, be mindful of the implications of "formerly" and avoid it if you're still teaching or plan to return to teaching soon. Providing specific details about your teaching experience will further enhance the impact of this statement.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I previously taught

Replaces "formerly" with "previously", indicating a prior teaching role.

I am a former teacher

Uses "former" as an adjective to describe the speaker's past profession.

I used to teach

Uses the common idiom "used to" to convey a past habit or state of teaching.

I once taught

Emphasizes that the teaching occurred at some point in the past.

I have taught in the past

Explicitly states that teaching occurred in the past, adding emphasis.

I lectured before

Replaces "taught" with "lectured", implying teaching at a higher education level.

I instructed in the past

Uses "instructed" as a synonym for "taught", adding a slightly more formal tone.

My past role was teaching

Rephrases the sentence to focus on the teaching role as a past occupation.

I was a teacher before

Simplifies the expression, directly stating a past profession.

Teaching was my former occupation

Changes the sentence structure, highlighting teaching as a past job.

FAQs

What does "I formerly taught" mean?

The phrase "I formerly taught" means that you taught in the past but are no longer teaching currently. It indicates a past teaching experience that is not ongoing.

What can I say instead of "I formerly taught"?

You can use alternatives like "I previously taught", "I used to teach", or "I am a former teacher" depending on the context.

Is "I formerly taught" formal or informal?

The phrase "I formerly taught" is generally considered more formal than alternatives like "I used to teach". It's suitable for professional contexts like resumes or formal introductions.

When should I use "I formerly taught" versus "I used to teach"?

"I formerly taught" is more precise and suitable for formal contexts, while "I used to teach" is more conversational. Choose "I formerly taught" when you want to clearly emphasize that you no longer hold a teaching position.