former discoveries

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "former discoveries" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to discoveries that were made in the past, often in a context where you are discussing their relevance or impact on current knowledge or research. Example: "The research paper builds upon former discoveries in the field of genetics to propose new theories."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Krauss halted sessions and turned to one of her former discoveries and most dependable collaborators, songwriter Robert Lee Castleman.

The Guardian - Music

In this context, new fieldwork has been undertaken in Abbeville at the Carrière Carpentier site, famous for its White Marl deposit attributed to the Cromerian and in the same terrace level where the former discoveries of "Abbevillian bifaces" were made by d'Ault du Mesnil.

Quaternary Science Reviews

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Further refusals followed from former Discovery colleagues Michael Barne, Reginald Skelton and finally George Mulock, who inadvertently revealed to Shackleton that the Discovery officers had all committed themselves to Scott and his as yet unannounced expedition plans.

Wikipedia

"He cornered the market," says Abby Greensfelder, a former Discovery executive who runs the reality-TV production company Half Yard Productions.

The New York Times - Magazine

After Discovery folded, at least eight current or former Discovery riders, and Johan Bruyneel, the team director, joined Astana, which had its second reorganization in as many years.

The New York Times - Sports

UKTV, owner of channels such as UKTV Gold and UKTV History, has appointed the former Discovery Europe head of networks, David Abraham, as its chief executive.

The Guardian

The executive producer of "America: The Story of Us" is Jane Root, a former Discovery Channel president who was involved in the production of Simon Schama's 15-part "History of Britain" when she was a top BBC executive a decade ago.

The New York Times

AUSTIN, Tex., Nov. 8 (AP) — Two weeks after being cleared of doping accusations, Ivan Basso, the Giro d'Italia champion, signed a two-year contract to ride for Lance Armstrong's former Discovery Channel team.

The New York Times - Sports

George Hincapie, a former Discovery rider who is racing for High Road, said he thought the team would have a great deal of motivation to ride for the victory, because the team was new and because of the doubts engendered by the withdrawal of T-Mobile.

The New York Times - Sports

In post-third world war Paris, a prisoner is selected as a guinea pig in a time-travel experiment intended to repair the all-but-destroyed present; shifting between past and future, he finds both the key to regenerating his own society and a personal existential truth that renders the former discovery moot.

The Guardian

Previous advisory chairmen and women have included Hincks; Alison Sharman, ITV's director of factual and daytime; Celador's head of factual entertainment Murray Boland Tiger Aspectt's Charles Brand; Cheetah Television's creative director Sara Ramsden; new Channel Five chief executive Dawn Airey; BBC director general Mark Thompson; and former Discovery US boss Jane Root.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "former discoveries", ensure that the context clearly establishes what these discoveries led to or how they influence current understanding. It provides historical context and a foundation for new ideas.

Common error

Avoid using "former discoveries" when referring to innovations that are still actively in use or considered cutting-edge. The term implies that the discoveries are somewhat outdated or superseded by newer findings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "former discoveries" functions primarily as a noun phrase, often acting as the subject or object of a sentence. It refers to discoveries that were made in the past. Ludwig shows examples where it's used to provide context for current studies or research.

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

The phrase "former discoveries" refers to findings or breakthroughs that occurred in the past. It is considered grammatically correct, as confirmed by Ludwig, but appears with a rare frequency across different contexts, predominantly in News & Media and Science. When employing this phrase, it's crucial to ensure the context clearly indicates how these discoveries relate to current knowledge or developments. Common errors include using it for recent innovations or failing to provide sufficient context. Alternatives such as "previous findings" or "past breakthroughs" can be used depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

previous findings

Replaces "discoveries" with "findings", emphasizing results obtained previously.

past breakthroughs

Substitutes "discoveries" with "breakthroughs", highlighting significant advances made in the past.

prior innovations

Uses "innovations" instead of "discoveries", focusing on new methods or ideas from the past.

earlier insights

Replaces "discoveries" with "insights", underscoring understanding gained at an earlier time.

historical revelations

Emphasizes the historical aspect of the discoveries, highlighting their revealing nature.

antecedent findings

Uses a more formal term, "antecedent", to refer to prior results or discoveries.

legacy discoveries

Highlights the lasting impact or heritage of past discoveries.

outdated theories

Focuses on theories that have been previously discovered but are now outdated.

superseded findings

Indicates findings that have been replaced by newer or more accurate information.

initial breakthroughs

Highlights the initial nature of discoveries or breakthroughs in a particular field.

FAQs

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

You might say, "The current study builds upon the groundwork laid by "former discoveries" in the field of quantum physics".

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

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "previous findings", "past breakthroughs" or "earlier insights".

Is it appropriate to use "former discoveries" when referring to current knowledge?

It's generally best to avoid using "former discoveries" when referring to current knowledge unless you're highlighting how that knowledge has evolved or been superseded. It typically implies the discoveries are somewhat outdated.

What is the difference between "former discoveries" and "historical discoveries"?

"Former discoveries" emphasizes that the discoveries are in the past, possibly superseded, whereas "historical discoveries" highlights their importance in history, regardless of their current relevance.