former book

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "former book" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a book that was previously published or authored, often in a context where the current book is being compared to it. Example: "In her latest novel, she builds upon the themes introduced in her former book, exploring deeper emotional connections."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

To which Mrs. Cheney joked, "My former book agent.

The New York Times

A former book editor, she moved to Calcutta in 1990.

The New York Times - Books

Madeleine Schwartz is a junior at Harvard, a staff writer at the Crimson, and a former Book Bench intern.

The New Yorker

The former book is a purely descriptive work with no value judgments.

The New York Times - Books

The former book, which was published fifty-two yeago ago, remains mostly lucid, even if in places it is stilted and dated.

The New Yorker

He crossed the room with his wife, Helen, a former book editor, who is taller and less wound-up than he is, and greeted the Miranda group.

The New Yorker

Dvorkin and Coates Bateman, a former book editor who runs True/Slant's daily content operations, showed me around the site's "dashboard," the back office of its virtual newsroom.

The New York Times - Magazine

The simplest answer is that I've often… Madeleine Schwartz is a junior at Harvard, a staff writer at the Crimson, and a former Book Bench intern.

The New Yorker

He co-authored "Prime Time & Misdemeanors - Investigating the 1950's TV Quiz Scandal" and was former book editor at McGraw Hill.

The New York Times

Sinclair, a former book dealer, proudly reveals an array of Burroughs first editions, many of them signed.

The Guardian - Books

Jennifer Griffin, a former book editor who is now a literary agent, said the field is not as promising as some think.

The New York Times - Food

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "former book" to clearly distinguish between an author's present publication and their past literary efforts, particularly when tracing the evolution of their work.

Common error

Avoid using "former book" when you intend to describe the physical format of a book. Instead of saying "This is a former book", use "This is an older edition" or "This is a pre-digital version" if you mean a physical copy of a book that now exists digitally.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "former book" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "former" modifies the noun "book". According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is correct and usable in English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

88%

Science

7%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Wiki

1%

Encyclopedias

1%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "former book" is a grammatically correct and frequently used phrase to refer to a book that has been previously published, most commonly used in News & Media. Ludwig AI confirms its usability and correctness. When using this phrase, ensure that the context clearly indicates that you are referring to a past work of the same author, often to draw comparisons with their current project. Alternatives such as "previous book" or "earlier book" can be used interchangeably. Be aware of potential misinterpretations, like confusing "former book" with the book’s format.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

previous book

Uses "previous" instead of "former" to denote a book that came before the current one.

earlier book

Replaces "former" with "earlier", indicating a book that was written or published at an earlier time.

prior book

Substitutes "former" with "prior", suggesting a book that precedes the one under discussion.

preceding book

Employs "preceding" in place of "former", highlighting a book that comes immediately before another.

past book

Replaces "former" with "past", referring to a book that existed in the past.

initial book

Uses "initial" to emphasize that the book was the first in a series or the author's debut work.

first book

Emphasizes that the book was the debut or the first one of the author.

original book

Denotes the first or initial version of a book, perhaps before revisions or updates.

outdated book

Suggests that the book is no longer current or relevant, implying it has been superseded.

old book

A simple substitution, implying that the book is from the past, potentially lacking modern relevance.

FAQs

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

You can use "former book" to refer to a previously published book by the same author, like in the sentence: "The author's current work is a departure from the themes explored in their "former book"".

What's a good alternative to "former book"?

A suitable alternative is "previous book". For example, instead of "His ideas contrast sharply with those in his former book", you could say, "His ideas contrast sharply with those in his previous book".

Is it correct to use "earlier book" instead of "former book"?

Yes, "earlier book" is a perfectly acceptable alternative. Both phrases indicate a book published or written before the current one being discussed.

What is the difference between "prior book" and "former book"?

While both are similar, "former book" is more commonly used in general contexts. "prior book" might be slightly more formal, but they are largely interchangeable.