former apartment

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "former apartment" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a place where someone used to live before moving to a new location. Example: "After moving to the city, I often think about my former apartment and the memories I made there."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

He lay down outside his former apartment door and dozed off.

The New Yorker

Despite hardly resembling the artists' name, the tribute was painted nearby Bowie's former apartment on Lafayette Street.

Independent

"My former apartment was in a typical 15th-century Venetian palace," said Mr. Agostini, who is 51 and single.

The New York Times

Though his former apartment now belongs to the new chief, Mr. Stein knocked politely at the front door.

The New York Times

The Jia Shanghai (in a former apartment building), where comfort is not sacrificed for design.

The New York Times

The irony is that they are paying $2,000 a month to rent Ginsberg's former apartment.

The New York Times

Stops at Vanderbilt Hall, the East Staircase and the former apartment of John W. Campbell, financier.

The New York Times - Arts

Each of the 101 rooms in this former apartment building comes with a full kitchen.

The New York Times - Travel

A picture caption referred incorrectly to her former apartment in the Palazzo Cenci in Rome.

The New York Times

While Dowling owned the Carlyle, the then Senator Kennedy took Dale's former apartment, 34A.

The New York Times

When Schwartzman moved into 100 11th Avenue Residences, the luxury Chelsea high-rise designed by Jean Nouvel, he left the contents of his former apartment behind.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Specify location or unique characteristics of the "former apartment" to provide additional context.

Common error

Avoid using "former apartment" when you mean a building that was formally an apartment building. "Former apartment" refers to an apartment someone used to live in. If describing a building's previous use, say "The building was formerly an apartment building".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "former apartment" functions as a noun phrase, where the adjective "former" modifies the noun "apartment". According to Ludwig AI, this phrase is used to specify that the apartment is no longer the current residence.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Wiki

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Science

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "former apartment" is a common and grammatically correct way to refer to a previous place of residence. As Ludwig AI points out, it clearly indicates that the apartment is no longer the current dwelling. The phrase is frequently used in news media and general conversation, maintaining a neutral tone. When writing, ensure that "former apartment" refers to an apartment someone used to live in and not a building’s previous use as an apartment complex. Alternatives such as "previous apartment" and "old apartment" can be used, depending on the desired level of formality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

previous apartment

Uses a different adjective with similar meaning to 'former'.

prior apartment

Replaces 'former' with 'prior', which has a similar meaning but slightly more formal.

old apartment

Replaces 'former' with a more common adjective, slightly reducing formality.

earlier apartment

Uses 'earlier' to indicate a point in time.

old residence

Replaces both 'former' and 'apartment' with common synonyms.

past residence

Employs a more formal noun ('residence') instead of 'apartment'.

previous residence

Replaces both 'former' and 'apartment' with synonyms, increasing formality.

ex-apartment

Uses a prefix to indicate 'former', creating a slightly more casual tone.

one-time apartment

More emphatic, highlighting the apartment's role as a past dwelling.

bygone apartment

Uses a less common adjective to denote the past nature of the apartment.

FAQs

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

You can use "former apartment" to describe a place where someone used to live, for example: "She visited her "former apartment" to collect her mail".

What is a simple alternative to "former apartment"?

A simple alternative to "former apartment" is "old apartment". It's less formal but conveys the same meaning.

Is "previous apartment" the same as "former apartment"?

"Previous apartment" and "former apartment" are very similar. "Previous apartment" is nearly interchangeable and refers to where someone lived before their current residence.

How does "past residence" compare to "former apartment"?

"Past residence" is a more formal way of saying "former apartment". While "former apartment" is specific, "past residence" could refer to any type of dwelling.