a former letter

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a former letter" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a letter that was previously sent or written, often in a context where you are discussing past correspondence. Example: "In response to a former letter I sent last month, I would like to clarify my position on the matter."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

The club presents the honor annually to a former letter winner to recognize outstanding accomplishments later in life.

The New York Times - Sports

Having grown up on the banks of the Niagara River, the son of a former letter carrier and a probation officer, he had seen art primarily in books.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

The fourth-best stock picker is Miami-based Bill Gordon, a former advisory letter analyst who spends from 5 a.m. until 9 p.m. each trading day monitoring his investments and researching stocks from his home office.

Forbes

Former letter carrier for 37 years at various Post Offices.

The New York Times

"This junk was marketed as a safe savings product," complained Layne Arthur, a former farmer, in a letter to the governor of the Bank of Canada.

The Economist

In a June 30 letter, a former chairman and chief executive of Aetna Inc. suggests that people pay for procedures not covered by their insurance plan or health maintenance organization.

The New York Times

In an Aug. 1 letter, a former Foreign Service officer appears to take it as a given that the main cause of Islamic fundamentalism "is the Israeli-Palestinian problem".

The New York Times

A former Bostonian got a letter from one of his father's friends there, saying that he was coming to N. Y. on a brief business trip and suggested that the two of them get together on a certain evening.

The New Yorker

A young man who has been getting by with the aid of the G.I. Bill of Rights the last couple of years was invited to… A former Bostonian got a letter from one of his father's friends there, saying that he was coming to N. Y. on a brief business….

The New Yorker

These letters, which say things like "Susan was a continual influence on all those around her," or "I am happy to state that Ralph is a former colleague," are dubbed "L.I.A.R. Letters" (Letters of Inconspicuously Ambiguous Reference).

Science Magazine

A former worker said some letters amounted to "So-and-so cuts my lawn and does a good job," adding that the company made no attempt to verify the information, the complaint stated.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Using "a former letter" is most effective when contrasting it with a current or subsequent communication. This highlights the change or continuation of a topic or relationship over time.

Common error

Avoid using "a former letter" without providing sufficient context. If it's unclear which past correspondence you're referencing, your audience may become confused. Be specific or provide additional details.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a former letter" functions as a noun phrase, where "former" acts as an adjective modifying the noun "letter". It identifies a specific letter among others, indicating it existed or was sent at some point in the past. Ludwig confirms this usage with examples.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a former letter" is a grammatically sound and relatively uncommon way to refer to a letter from the past. As Ludwig AI indicates, it's important to provide sufficient context when using this phrase to avoid ambiguity. While "a former letter" is mainly found in news and scientific sources, alternative phrases like "a previous letter" or "an earlier letter" can also be used depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a previous letter

Focuses on the temporal aspect of the letter, emphasizing it came before.

an earlier letter

Highlights that the letter occurred at an earlier point in time.

a past letter

Emphasizes the letter belongs to the past.

a prior letter

Indicates the letter preceded the current one or situation.

a letter sent earlier

Specifies that the action of sending the letter happened at an earlier time.

a letter from before

Simplifies the temporal relationship, indicating a letter originating from an earlier period.

a bygone letter

Uses a more formal term to indicate a letter from a past era.

a letter of the past

Highlights the belonging of the letter to a past time.

a once-sent letter

Emphasizes the action of sending the letter and that it happened only once.

a letter from yesteryear

Employs a slightly archaic term to denote a letter from the past.

FAQs

What's the difference between "a former letter" and "a previous letter"?

Both "a former letter" and "a previous letter" refer to a letter from the past. "Former" might subtly imply a more distant or concluded relationship, while "previous" simply indicates an earlier occurrence.

When should I use "a former letter" instead of "an earlier letter"?

"A former letter" and "an earlier letter" are often interchangeable. "Former" can suggest a more significant temporal gap or a change in circumstances compared to "earlier".

Is it correct to say "a formerly sent letter" instead of "a former letter"?

While grammatically understandable, "a formerly sent letter" is less common and sounds more awkward than "a former letter". It's better to stick with the simpler phrasing.

Can "a former letter" refer to a draft that was never sent?

Technically, "a former letter" typically implies the letter was actually sent. If referring to a draft, it's clearer to say "a draft letter" or "an unsent letter".