a former captain of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a former captain of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to someone who previously held the position of captain in a specific context, such as a sports team, military unit, or organization. Example: "He is a former captain of the national soccer team, having led them to victory in the last championship."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Beckham, 38, is a former captain of England's national team.

The New York Times - Sports

Like Gainey, he is a former captain of the Canadiens.

The New York Times - Sports

She is married to Mike Tindall, 33, a former captain of England's national rugby team.

The New York Times - Sports

Hulsizer, 40, is a former captain of the Amherst College hockey team.

The New York Times - Sports

As a former captain of the England women's rugby team, I believe this is wrong.

The Guardian - Opinion

The writer is a former captain of the New York Cosmos.

The New York Times - Sports

A former captain of the American team, Reyna was recently appointed youth technical director for the United States Soccer Federation.

The New York Times - Sports

Beckham, a former captain of England's national team, has already played for some of the world's biggest clubs.

The New York Times - Sports

Margot Benedict New York The writer is a former captain of the Yale varsity women's sailing team.

The New York Times - Sports

Not to qualify, said Julie Foudy, a former captain of the American team, would have been "tragic".

The New York Times - Sports

He was an avid sailor, skier and swimmer and a former Captain of the Amherst swimming team.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a former captain of", ensure the context clearly indicates the team, organization, or entity the person used to captain. This avoids ambiguity and provides necessary information for the reader.

Common error

Avoid using "a former captain of" when referring to someone who is still acting as captain in a different capacity. Also, ensure the team or organization is clearly identified to prevent confusion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a former captain of" functions as a noun modifier, specifying a past role or position held by an individual. Ludwig AI indicates that it's a standard and acceptable way to describe someone's previous leadership in a team or organization.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Academia

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a former captain of" is a commonly used and grammatically correct phrase to describe someone who previously held the position of captain. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and usability in various contexts. It is frequently found in news and media, as well as academic settings, making it a versatile phrase for both formal and informal writing. When employing this phrase, ensure that the team or organization is clearly identified to avoid ambiguity. Consider alternatives such as "an ex-captain of" or "previously captain of" for stylistic variation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an ex-captain of

Uses "ex-" as a prefix, offering a slightly more concise and informal alternative.

a past captain of

Substitutes "former" with "past", maintaining the same meaning with a slight difference in tone.

once captain of

Replaces "a former captain" with "once captain", focusing on a specific period in the past.

previously captain of

Uses "previously" to highlight the temporal aspect of the captaincy.

used to be captain of

Emphasizes the change in status from captain to non-captain.

one-time captain of

Adds emphasis to the fact that the person held the position of captain at some point.

a prior captain of

Replaces "former" with "prior", indicating a captain from an earlier time.

the previous captain of

Specifies that the person was the captain immediately before the current one.

erstwhile captain of

Uses the word "erstwhile" which is a more formal way of saying "former".

late captain of

Describes someone who is no longer alive and previously held the position of captain.

FAQs

How do I use "a former captain of" in a sentence?

Use "a former captain of" to describe someone who previously held the captaincy of a team or organization. For instance, "He is "a former captain of" the national team."

What are some alternatives to saying "a former captain of"?

You can use phrases like "an ex-captain of", "a past captain of", or "previously captain of" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "the former captain of" or "a former captain of"?

Both are grammatically correct, but "the former captain of" implies a specific individual is being referred to, while ""a former captain of"" refers to any individual who previously held the captaincy.

When should I use "a former captain of" versus other similar phrases?

Use ""a former captain of"" when you want to generally describe someone's past role. For more emphasis or informality, consider "an ex-captain of" or "previously captain of".