a former speaker of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a former speaker of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to someone who previously held the position of speaker in a legislative body or organization. Example: "John Smith, a former speaker of the House, shared his insights on the new legislation."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

He is Zharmakhan Tuyakbai, a former speaker of parliament.

The Economist

He was followed by Nino Burjanadze, a former speaker of Parliament.

The New York Times

"It's expected," said Ayad al-Samarrai, a former speaker of Parliament.

The New York Times

Nino Burdzhanadze, a former speaker of Parliament, finished third with 10.2 percent.

The New York Times

Mehdi Karroubi, a former speaker of Parliament and a reformer, has said he will run.

The New York Times

"We need to talk about realities," said Mr. Karroubi, who is a former speaker of Parliament.

The New York Times

Yes, but he's also a former speaker of the House, two heartbeats away from the presidency.

The Washington Post

Newt Gingrich, a former speaker of the House, is in the early stages of putting together a campaign.

The New York Times

TIP O'NEILL, a former speaker of America's House of Representatives, once sagely observed that all politics is local.

The Economist

Avraham Burg, a former Speaker of the Knesset, Israel's Parliament, says a "post-national" model must be explored.

The Economist

Into the breach stepped the colourful Mr Séguin, a former speaker of the National Assembly and eternal maverick.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a former speaker of", ensure that the context clearly indicates which legislative body or organization is being referred to. For instance, specify "a former speaker of the House" or "a former speaker of Parliament" to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

While "a former speaker of" is generally correct, sometimes it's more appropriate to use "the former speaker of" when referring to a specific individual already known to the audience. Consider the context to determine whether the indefinite or definite article is more suitable.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a former speaker of" functions as a noun phrase, typically used as an appositive or modifier to identify an individual who previously held the position of speaker in a legislative or governing body. Ludwig examples confirm its role in providing background information about individuals.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Unknown

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a former speaker of" is a common and grammatically sound way to refer to someone who previously held the position of speaker in a legislative body. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is widely used and accepted. The phrase serves to provide context and background, often in news and media settings. Alternatives like "ex-speaker of" or "past speaker of" exist, offering slight variations in tone and formality. Remember to specify the relevant body when using the phrase to avoid ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

ex-speaker of

Uses a shorter prefix, 'ex-', to denote 'former'.

past speaker of

Replaces "former" with "past", maintaining the meaning.

previous speaker of

Substitutes "former" with "previous", indicating a prior role.

one-time speaker of

Uses "one-time" to emphasize a past occurrence.

the erstwhile speaker of

Employs "erstwhile" for a more formal tone, indicating a past role.

once speaker of

Simplifies the phrase by removing 'a' and 'former'.

the then speaker of

Specifies that the person was the speaker at a particular time in the past.

former presiding officer of

Replaces "speaker" with a more generic term, "presiding officer".

the late speaker of

Refers to someone who was a speaker and is now deceased.

predecessor as speaker of

Highlights the relationship as a predecessor in the speaker role.

FAQs

How can I use "a former speaker of" in a sentence?

You can use "a former speaker of" to introduce someone who previously held the position of speaker. For example, "A former speaker of the House addressed the committee".

What are some alternatives to "a former speaker of"?

Alternatives include "ex-speaker of", "past speaker of", or "previous speaker of" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "the former speaker of" instead of "a former speaker of"?

Both phrases are correct, but "the former speaker of" is used when referring to a specific, known individual, while "a former speaker of" is used to introduce someone or refer to them in a general sense.

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

"A former speaker of" implies one among many possible former speakers, while "the former speaker of" refers to a specific individual previously identified or understood in context.