former institution

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "former institution" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to an organization or establishment that someone was previously associated with or that no longer exists. Example: "After graduating, she returned to her former institution to give a guest lecture."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

15 human-written examples

At the former institution the women were administered 100 μg of misoprostol once per 24 h and at the latter 50 μg every 12 h.

International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics

From its dark bowels the K.G.B. has produced a star, one who speaks of his former institution with proud dignity.

The New York Times - Magazine

For example, there are courses here at UBC, as well as at my former institution, the University of Cincinnati, where professors give assignments to students to actually look at social media as a means of communication.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Q: Your former institution, Cornell, has also been very active.

Science Magazine

He was also concerned that the agency withheld funding for a set of grants mainly awarded to Gilman's former institution, UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas.

Science Magazine

"He was a truly outstanding graduate, a former Institution of Civil Engineers president's apprentice and made a fantastic contribution to numerous projects during his time at Arup.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

45 human-written examples

Those two former institutions appear to have committed most of the missteps that are at the heart of the settlement talks.

The New York Times

In October, his former institutions, Harvard Medical School and its affiliate Brigham and Women's Hospital, asked journals to retract 31 of his lab's papers.

The Washington Post

LIPM is the inheritor and continuator of former institutions that began doing research and production of electronic music in Argentina in the late 50's: the Estudio de Fonología Musical of the University of Buenos Aires, founded in 1958, and the Laboratory of the Centro Latinoamericano de Altos Estudios Musicales (CLAEM) of the Di Tella Institute, founded in 1964.

Stanford University

The faculty revolted in 1897 and sought return of the property of the three former institutions, with a resulting lawsuit.

Wikipedia

Vahrenwald's interest in the living legacies of these former institutions took him to cities like New York City and Detroit, where he would find decomposed or repurposed facades still engraved with a hint of their past lives.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "former institution", ensure the context clearly establishes the current affiliation to avoid ambiguity. For example, "Before joining Google, she worked at her "former institution", Stanford University."

Common error

Avoid using "former institution" without specifying which institution you are referring to, especially if the subject has been associated with multiple institutions. Always provide enough context to prevent confusion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "former institution" functions as a noun phrase, where "former" modifies the noun "institution". It indicates a past association or affiliation. As Ludwig AI confirms, this construction is grammatically sound and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

33%

News & Media

33%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Wiki

7%

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "former institution" is a grammatically correct and commonly used term to refer to a past affiliation, whether academic, professional, or otherwise. Ludwig AI confirms this. Its frequency is classified as common and the phrase appears often across Science, News & Media, and Academia contexts. When using the phrase, clarity is key; always ensure the specific institution is clear from the context. Alternatives like "previous institution" or "past institution" can be used for variety, while "alma mater" is suitable when specifically referencing a school. Remember to provide context to avoid ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

previous institution

Replaces "former" with "previous", emphasizing the temporal aspect of being before the current one.

past institution

Uses "past" instead of "former", highlighting that the institution is no longer the current one.

ex-institution

A shorter, more informal way to say "former institution".

prior institution

Emphasizes the institution that came before the present one.

old institution

Focuses on the age and that the institution is not a new establishment.

previous organization

Uses "organization" instead of "institution", broadening the type of entity.

past employer

Specifically indicates a past workplace or organization where someone was employed.

alma mater

Specifically refers to the school, college, or university that one has attended.

once-attended institution

More descriptive, emphasizing the act of having attended the institution.

previous place of employment

A more detailed alternative, explicitly specifying a workplace.

FAQs

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

You can use "former institution" to refer to a school, company, or organization that someone was previously associated with. For example, "He returned to his "former institution" to give a lecture."

What is a simple substitute for "former institution"?

Alternatives include "previous institution", "past institution", or, if referring to a school, "alma mater".

Is it appropriate to use "former institution" in formal writing?

Yes, "former institution" is appropriate for formal writing, especially when discussing professional or academic affiliations. However, ensure clarity and context.

What's the difference between "former institution" and "previous employer"?

"Former institution" is broader and can refer to any organization, including schools or universities. "Previous employer" specifically refers to a place of work or employment.