a former house

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a former house" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a house that someone used to live in or own but no longer does. Example: "After moving to a new city, she often reminisces about her former house and the memories it holds."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Sixty-nine people, 29 of them children, live in a former house for bodyguards.

The Guardian

Mounting shows in a former house "has always been a challenge," Ms. Lupton said.

The New York Times

Knowing that a face on the wall belonged to a former house master would be a good start, Rienstra says, but rich historical details would be better.

Harvard University

She's also a former house manager of Afro House, an eleven-bedroom cooperative in the Berkeley Hills where she lived her sophomore year.

University of California, Berkeley

Another of her last-time customers, Norma dos Santos, a former house cleaner, said she felt she had no choice.

The New York Times

10 43 p.m. Catherine Andrews, a former house resident and a current party guest, cracks open a beer.

The New York Times

Despite the art, the ornate chandelier, and the stained-glass windows, most Silver Hawks fans don't seem to notice that they're in a former house of worship.

The New Yorker

6 p.m. - Visit the Avondale Brewing Company, a former house of ill repute, and try the Brothel Brown.

Huffington Post

The mansion retained the name of a former house of J. Butler Wright, who lived there and called it Woodlea; it dates to around 1806.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

"Members of Congress, when you get down to it, are just people," said Mickey Edwards, a former House Republican leader.

The New York Times

Mr. Ensign requested the session in a phone call to Mr. LaHood, a former House Republican colleague, transportation officials said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a change in use, clarify the building's current purpose after mentioning it was "a former house". For example: "The restaurant is in a former house, which gives it a cozy atmosphere."

Common error

Ensure the reader understands whose "former house" you are referring to. If it's unclear, specify the previous owner or occupant for clarity. For example: "This museum was a former house of a renowned artist."

Linguistic Context

"A former house" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as a subject, object, or complement in a sentence. Ludwig AI shows its use in describing a building's past use, as seen in examples like "live in a former house" or "in a former house of worship."

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

30%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a former house" is a noun phrase used to describe a building that previously served as a residence but now has a different purpose. Ludwig AI indicates that while grammatically correct and commonly used, it's important to provide context to avoid ambiguity about whose or what kind of house it was. It appears most frequently in news and media, academia, and wiki sources and can be replaced with alternatives like "previous residence" or "old home" depending on the nuance you want to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Previous residence

Focuses on the dwelling as a place of living that was occupied before the current one.

Prior residence

Similar to "previous residence" but can sound more formal.

Former dwelling

Emphasizes the act of inhabiting a place that is no longer the current home.

Old home

Highlights the past nature of the house as a place of personal significance.

Past abode

More formal term, emphasizing the fact that the house was someone's residence in the past.

Once a house

Stresses a change in the building's use, perhaps it is no longer used as a house.

Historically a house

Highlights the house's historical function as a dwelling, useful in describing buildings with changed purposes.

Building formerly used as a house

Focuses on the building's prior function when its current use may be something else.

Where someone used to live

Descriptive phrase, highlighting that the house was a residence in the past.

The house where they once resided

Emphasizes the personal connection and historical habitation of the house.

FAQs

How can I use "a former house" in a sentence?

You can use "a former house" to describe a building that was once a residential dwelling but now serves a different purpose. For example, "The antique shop is located in "a former house" downtown."

What are some alternatives to saying "a former house"?

Alternatives include "previous residence", "old home", or "past abode", depending on the context and desired level of formality.

Is it correct to say "a house former" instead of "a former house"?

No, the correct phrasing is "a former house". The adjective "former" precedes the noun "house" to indicate it was a house in the past.

What's the difference between "a former house" and "an old house"?

"A former house" specifically implies that the building was once a house but isn't anymore (e.g., it's now a store). "An old house" simply means the house is old, regardless of its current or past use.