a former version of

USAGE SUMMARY

"a former version of" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to refer to something that has been replaced by a newer version. For example, "The current operating system is much more user friendly than the a former version of it."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

25 human-written examples

Maybe he could take some words of advice from a former version of himself?

The Guardian

During the first few days of being prime minister, Malcolm Turnbull seems to be doing his best to argue about climate change with a former version of himself.

The Guardian

In a former version of the high performance flexible porous medium burner, the upstream porous medium is incorporated with a cooling system using the combustion air as a coolants to prevent thermal decomposition of fuels and thus the burner clogging caused by carbon deposit within the porous medium can be avoided.

Theoretical and Applied Mechanics Letters

More precisely, the Dutch court wished to know how the word habitually, used for the first time in the 1989 version, should be interpreted and whether the case law on Article 5(1), based on a former version of this provision,5 was relevant to this purpose.

Columbia University

"I was, of course, full of the kind of mortification that is part and parcel with meeting a former version of yourself, a woefully misguided girl desperate to be embraced by even the least exemplary specimens of young American malehood," wrote Dunham.

The Guardian - Books

I'm looking around the room and I notice that everyone in it looks like someone — and when I try to figure out exactly who that someone is, it turns out to be a former version of herself, a thinner version or a healthier version or a pre-plastic-surgery version or a taller version.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

35 human-written examples

Compared with the 2D fingerprint similarity model built in SPORCalc (former version of MetaPrint2D) [43], an exact match operator was introduced to establish the fingerprint similarity model in our method.

Chemistry Central Journal

He also did most of the development for the former version of the site.

Cornell University

Users of the former versions of Pages have complained loudly in online Apple forums.

The New York Times - Tech

In former versions of the DIF standard, ASCII text was used.

Earth, Planets and Space

Former versions of the software used in the NELSON study did not have this option.

European Radiology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a former version of" to clearly indicate that you are referring to a previous state or iteration of something, especially when comparing it to the current version. This is useful in technical documentation, historical analyses, or when discussing updates and changes.

Common error

Avoid using "a former version of" when you actually mean the 'latter' version. "Former" refers to something previous, while 'latter' refers to the second of two things mentioned. Ensure you're using the correct term to avoid confusion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a former version of" functions as a prepositional phrase, typically used as an adjective to modify a noun. It specifies that the noun being described is a previous or outdated iteration of something. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and common usage.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

36%

Science

36%

Academia

11%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a former version of" is a common and grammatically correct prepositional phrase used to specify a previous or outdated iteration of something. As indicated by Ludwig, it is most frequently found in news, scientific, and academic contexts, and serves the purpose of distinguishing a past state from a current one. When writing, ensure you use "a former version of" to clearly highlight the changes and improvements made over time, and avoid confusing it with "the latter version". Alternatives such as "a previous iteration of" or "an earlier rendition of" can be used depending on the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a previous iteration of

Replaces 'version' with 'iteration', emphasizing the sequential development of something.

an earlier rendition of

Substitutes 'version' with 'rendition', suggesting a particular performance or interpretation.

a prior edition of

Uses 'edition' instead of 'version', often used in the context of publications or software.

a past release of

Replaces 'version' with 'release', commonly used for software or products made available to the public.

an outdated form of

Focuses on the fact that the previous version is no longer current.

the original state of

Shifts the focus to the initial condition or form of something.

the initial release of

Focuses on the beginning or first presence of an element.

an old form of

Describes as something less up to date.

the prototype of

Suggests the initial design or model.

predecessor to

Highlights the concept of something that came before.

FAQs

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

You can use "a former version of" to refer to something that existed previously but has since been updated or replaced. For example, "The software now includes features that were absent in "a former version of" the program".

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

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "a previous iteration of", "an earlier rendition of", or "a prior edition of" to convey a similar meaning.

Is it appropriate to use "a former version of" in formal writing?

Yes, "a former version of" is appropriate for formal writing. It's a clear and professional way to refer to something that has been superseded. It is often used in technical, academic, and business contexts.

What is the difference between "a former version of" and "the current version of"?

"A former version of" refers to a past state of something, while "the current version of" refers to its present state. Using both phrases can help highlight changes or improvements made over time.