a former head of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a former head of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to someone who previously held a leadership position in an organization or group. Example: "She was a former head of the marketing department before moving to a new company."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

So is a former head of the Turkish football federation.

The New York Times - Sports

A third one is a former head of military intelligence.

The New Yorker

Thomas A. Robson, a former head of that office.

The New York Times

Jenkins is a former head of Middle East and north African investment banking, and Boath is a former head of the bank's European financial institutions group.

The Guardian - Business

Rendell, a former head of the Democratic Party, is a Biden friend and a Clinton supporter.

The New Yorker

Abbas Nasir, a former head of Dawn News television, said he was "nauseated" by some coverage.

The New York Times

'John Smith' A former head of GCHQ "This is first and foremost a personal tragedy.

Independent

He is a former head of the China Division of the International Monetary Fund.

The New York Times

A former head of McKinsey, Mr Gupta advises the UN on management reform.

The Economist

He is succeeded by Paul Bremer, a former head of counter-terrorism at the State Department.

The Economist

Hans Blix, a former head of the I.A.E.A., questioned the Bush Administration's commitment to diplomacy.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Pair "a former head of" with specific accomplishments or contributions made by the individual during their tenure to add depth and relevance to the statement.

Common error

Avoid generic references. Always specify the exact organization or department the individual used to lead. For instance, instead of "a former head", specify "a former head of the marketing department at Acme Corp."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a former head of" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as an appositive or modifier to identify a person by their past leadership role. As Ludwig AI indicates, this phrase is commonly used to provide context and credibility.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

25%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

2%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a former head of" is a commonly used noun phrase to identify individuals based on their past leadership roles. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct and suitable for various contexts, especially in news, business, and academic writing. When using this phrase, ensure clarity by specifying the exact organization or department to avoid ambiguity. Alternative phrases, such as "ex-director of" or "past chief of", can be used depending on the context. It's important to note that while "a former head of" is widely accepted, its usage should always provide relevant context to enhance clarity and credibility.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Previous leader of

Uses "leader" instead of "head", implying a similar role with a slightly different connotation.

Ex-director of

Replaces "head" with "director", suggesting a more formal or corporate leadership position.

Past chief of

Employs "chief" to indicate a top-level leader, altering the nuance of the role.

The one-time boss of

Uses "boss" to convey a more colloquial sense of leadership.

The prior supervisor of

Substitutes "head" with "supervisor", indicating a more direct management role.

One who formerly headed

Rephrases the structure using "headed" as a verb, changing the grammatical construction.

The erstwhile president of

Replaces "former" with "erstwhile" for a more archaic tone, and head with president.

Prior governor of

Uses "governor" to suggest a leadership role over a large group of people.

Retired manager of

Replaces "head" with "manager", suggesting a managerial role instead of a leadership one.

Once in charge of

Uses the phrase "in charge of" instead of "head of" for a slight change in the tone.

FAQs

How do I properly use "a former head of" in a sentence?

Use "a former head of" to introduce someone who previously led a specific organization or department. For example, "John Doe, "a former head of" sales, implemented new strategies".

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

You can use alternatives like "ex-director of", "previous leader of", or "past chief of" depending on the specific context. The best alternative depends on the formality and nature of the role.

Is it correct to say "a former head at" instead of "a former head of"?

While "at" might be acceptable in very informal contexts, "a former head of" is generally more grammatically correct and appropriate for professional writing. "Of" clearly indicates possession or leadership over the specified entity.

What's the difference between "a former head of" and "the former head of"?

"A former head of" implies that the person is one of possibly several former heads. "The former head of" specifies a unique individual who was the head at a particular time, typically the most recent one before the current head.