former of all

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "former of all" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It is unclear what context or meaning you intend to express with this phrase, making it difficult to determine when it could be used. Example: "He was the former of all ideas in the project" does not make sense.

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

William Shawcross, like The Economist, was in the former of all those categories and is unrepentant about it.

The Economist

They sought to strip the former of all the advantages law and custom had given to men.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Other detainees include Celina Oseguera Parra, the former chief of all federal prisons in Mexico, and Leonor García García, former legal director of Altiplano.

Vice

According to the internet your husband is the former manager of All Saints..

The Guardian - Sport

Joubert's judgement and rapid departure from the field provoked a furious response from former players of all nationalities.

The Guardian - Sport

The scenes describing the death of his father, the former fount of all knowledge to whom antipathy is later developed, are riven with contradictory passion.

The Guardian - Books

In Sunday's talk-show appearance, General Jones, the former commander of all NATO forces, tried to deflect the public focus on a troop surge.

The New York Times

Continued research with former athletes of all ages will help determine a more precise age range at which the onset of negative mental health outcomes occurs.

Injury Epidemiology

Related: Former Canadian Media Star Jian Ghomeshi Acquitted of All Charges in Sex Assault Trial.

Vice

Tributes poured in from the world of football, especially from the former players of all Shankly's clubs.

Wikipedia

The former star of "All My Children" -- which is where he met Ripa -- could be looking for a gig.

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "former of all" in formal writing. Instead, consider more grammatically correct alternatives depending on the intended meaning. Ensure that "former" is used correctly to refer to the first of two options or to a previous role.

Common error

A common mistake is to use "former of all" when intending to refer to a previous position or state among many. For example, avoid saying "He was the former of all managers." Instead, specify the context: "He was the former manager." or "He was previously the manager."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "former of all" aims to specify a past state or position relative to a group, though it's grammatically flawed. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is incorrect. It's intended to indicate a prior role or condition, as seen in attempts within the provided examples.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Science

34%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "former of all" is grammatically incorrect and not recommended for use in formal writing. As noted by Ludwig AI, the phrase does not convey a clear meaning. Although attempts to use it appear in various contexts like news and media, its flawed structure undermines its effectiveness. The intended purpose is typically to reference a past state or role, but it is better to use alternatives such as "previously", "formerly", or, when comparing two items, "the former". Understanding these alternatives can improve clarity and correctness in writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

previous of all

Replaces "former" with "previous" maintaining the temporal reference but not fixing the grammatical error.

ex of all

Uses "ex" as a prefix instead of "former", implying a past role or status but not fixing the grammatical error.

once the

Indicates something that was previously in a certain state among a set.

the former

Removes "of all" leaving only "the former", a grammatically correct reference to the first of two items.

previously the

Emphasizes a prior state or role.

before all others

Highlights temporal precedence over others.

formerly the

Uses "formerly" to denote a past state.

in the past

General reference to something that happened or existed earlier.

used to be

Indicates a past state or condition that no longer exists.

at one time

Suggests a past occurrence or existence.

FAQs

Is "former of all" grammatically correct?

No, the phrase "former of all" is not grammatically correct in standard English. It doesn't convey a clear or logical meaning and should be avoided in formal writing. Ludwig AI confirms this assessment.

What can I say instead of "former of all"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "previously the", "formerly the", or "the former" (when referring to the first of two options).

How do I use "former" correctly in a sentence?

Use "former" to refer to a previous state, position, or the first of two items. For example, "He is a former employee" or "In the former case, we see..."

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

"Former" typically refers to a specific, often official, past role or the first of two items being compared. "Previous" is a more general term for something that came before. For example, "former president" vs. "previous experience".