former sentence

USAGE SUMMARY

"former sentence" is correct and usable in written English.
It is used to refer to a sentence that has already been stated or written. For example: "I would like to add another point to the former sentence."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

Because Mr. Koslov served a portion of the former sentence, the conviction on Thursday means he will serve a year and half in prison.

The New York Times

He served part of his former sentence at a Siberian prison near the Chinese border, where he worked in the sewing factory.

The New York Times

For the former sentence, yesterday directly modifies possible.

Lingua Sinica

Of course, the latter sentence is potentially informative, whereas the former sentence is not.

SEP

Given the plausible assumption that the proposition expressed by a sentence is a function of the semantic values of its constituent expressions together with their mode of combination, it seems inevitable that what the latter sentence says is just what the former sentence says assuming, with the naïve theory, that 'Hesperus' and 'Phosphorus' possess the same semantic value.

SEP

The sentences 'Possibly, David is no statue' and 'Possibly, Lumpl is no statue' can vary in truth value because the counterparts relevant to the truth value of the former sentence are all statues but the counterparts relevant to the truth value of the latter sentence are not.

SEP

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

L. 90 248, § 158(b), redesignated former first sentence of former subsec.

Cornell University

(2) to (4), and redesignated former second sentence of former subsec.

Cornell University

Erwin James is a former life sentence prisoner and author of A Life Inside.

The Guardian

(C) and struck out former third sentence which read "Voting shall be by classes as described in section 2279aa 2(a)(9) of this title"., designated fourth to sixth sentences collectively as subpar.

Cornell University

A reference in the former third sentence to violations of certain sections was broadened to read "in violation of this chapter or of sections 331 333, 335 336, 642, 1720, of this title" and incorporated in the first paragraph.

Cornell University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "former sentence", ensure the context clearly identifies which sentence you are referring to, especially in longer documents. Avoid ambiguity by being as specific as possible.

Common error

Avoid using "former sentence" if multiple sentences have been presented recently. Specify the sentence more clearly, perhaps by quoting a key phrase from it or using a more direct reference.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "former sentence" functions as a referential expression, specifically an anaphoric reference. It points back to a sentence that has already been introduced within the text, as shown in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

40%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "former sentence" is a grammatically sound phrase used to refer back to a previously mentioned sentence. While Ludwig AI confirms its correctness, it is relatively rare. It's commonly found in academic, scientific, and news contexts. Alternatives such as "previous sentence" or "aforementioned sentence" can provide similar meaning with slight variations in formality. When using "former sentence", ensure clear context to avoid ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

previous sentence

Replaces 'former' with 'previous' for a simpler, more direct reference.

aforementioned sentence

Uses a more formal term ('aforementioned') to indicate a sentence already cited.

sentence mentioned earlier

Specifies the timing of the sentence's appearance, emphasizing its prior occurrence.

sentence above

Indicates the sentence's position relative to the current text.

sentence in question

Highlights the sentence as the specific subject of discussion.

earlier statement

Substitutes 'sentence' with 'statement' to focus on the content rather than the form.

foregoing sentence

Employs a more legalistic term ('foregoing') for a formal tone.

preceding sentence

Uses 'preceding' to denote the sentence that immediately comes before.

sentence previously stated

Rephrases to emphasize the act of stating the sentence at an earlier time.

the sentence in the prior paragraph

Adds specification of paragraph location in cases where the sentence is in a different paragraph.

FAQs

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

You can use "former sentence" to refer back to a sentence that has already been mentioned. For example, "I would like to add another point to the "former sentence"".

What is a good alternative to "former sentence"?

Alternatives include "previous sentence", "aforementioned sentence", or "sentence mentioned earlier".

Is it always clear which sentence "former sentence" refers to?

No, it can be ambiguous if multiple sentences have been mentioned. To avoid confusion, be as specific as possible or rephrase to clarify.

What is the difference between "former sentence" and "latter sentence"?

"Former sentence" refers to the first of two sentences, while "latter sentence" refers to the second.