former ones

USAGE SUMMARY

"former ones" is a correct and usable part of a sentence in written English.
You can use it when you are talking about something that has already happened or has been replaced by something else. For example: "The former ones were outdated, so we decided to get new ones."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Compared with the former ones, reports on the role of IL-6 in experimental ischemic stroke are relatively fewer [ 61– 61].

BioMed Research International

"Mr C" with his face obscured, because obviously fixers – even former ones – don't want their faces on the internet.

Vice

We compared the GRANTHAM scores of SAPs annotated with disease to those annotated with polymorphism and found the former ones were greater than the latter, on average.

Plosone

When testing for effects of flupirtine on aIPSCs and aEPSCs, respectively, only the former ones were affected.

British Journal of Pharmacology

Igor Konashenkov, a spokesman for Russia's ministry of defence, said on Monday that the two detainees were not serving soldiers, but former ones.

BBC

The finger-pointing has just begun, with current officials and former ones trading charges.

The New York Times

It covers 45 present and former ones that go far afield from Woody Guthrie's Manhattan as "the New York island".

The New York Times

The play lampoons the thin veil of respectability that divides dissident terrorists from the newly laundered former ones.

The Guardian

Three cabinet officials and 12 former ones are under investigation for corruption, the attorney general's office said Tuesday.

The New York Times

Three former ones, recently arrested for the suspected embezzlement of $615m, have yet to be tried.Following Mr Ribadu's unhappy exit, the hunt for thieving politicians slowed.

The Economist

After he turned down the paedophiles, Michael told me, he noticed he was getting sign-ups from neo-Nazis, albeit repentant former ones.

The Guardian - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "former ones", ensure the context clearly establishes what the "former ones" are being compared to. Avoid ambiguity by providing sufficient background information.

Common error

Avoid using "former ones" without clearly indicating what the "latter ones" are. Ensure the reader can easily distinguish between the two.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "former ones" functions as a referential pronoun phrase, pointing back to a previously mentioned set of items or individuals. Ludwig AI suggests it's a correct and usable part of a sentence. It typically appears in comparative contexts, contrasting past and present states, as evidenced in the examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

57%

News & Media

36%

Formal & Business

7%

Less common in

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "former ones" is a versatile phrase used to refer back to a set of previously mentioned items or individuals, typically in comparison to a current group. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. This phrase is commonly found in science and news contexts, indicating a neutral to formal register. To ensure clarity, it is best practice to clearly establish the context and what the "latter ones" are. While alternatives like "previous instances" or "earlier versions" exist, the best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

previous instances

Replaces "ones" with "instances" providing a more formal tone, suitable when referring to events or occurrences.

earlier versions

Substitutes "ones" with "versions", useful when discussing products, documents, or software.

past iterations

Emphasizes a cyclical or repeated process, replacing "ones" with "iterations".

preceding elements

More formal and technical, replacing "ones" with "elements", often used in academic or scientific contexts.

erstwhile individuals

Uses a more archaic term, "erstwhile", to indicate a past status, replacing "former" and "ones" entirely.

onetime members

Specifically refers to individuals who were previously part of a group or organization, replacing "former" and "ones".

ex-participants

Directly indicates individuals who used to participate in something, replacing "former" and "ones".

departed entities

A more abstract and formal way to refer to things that no longer exist or are relevant, replacing "former" and "ones".

bygone examples

Evokes a sense of the past, replacing "former" with "bygone" and "ones" with "examples".

antecedent cases

A more formal and legalistic term to refer to previous instances or examples, replacing "former" and "ones".

FAQs

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

"Former ones" is used to refer to items or people that previously held a certain status or position, usually in contrast to current ones. For example, "The new regulations are stricter than the "previous ones"".

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

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "previous versions", "earlier iterations", or "past examples".

Is it always necessary to specify what the "latter ones" are when using "former ones"?

While not always grammatically required, specifying the "latter ones" or the current alternatives helps to provide clarity and avoid confusion for the reader.

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

While very similar, "former ones" implies a change in status or role, whereas ""previous ones"" simply refers to something that came before in time or sequence. The choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.