former trial

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "former trial" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a trial that has previously taken place, often in legal or experimental contexts. Example: "The results of the former trial were inconclusive, leading researchers to conduct further studies."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

Biden, a former trial lawyer, stuck with the President.

The New Yorker

Mr. Edwards himself is a former trial lawyer.

The New York Times

He was a former trial attorney with Continental Insurance Company.

The New York Times

Reid, who is a former trial lawyer, spent thirty minutes with Roberts.

The New Yorker

"He's unable to take police action," said his lawyer, Ms. Koshetz, the former trial commissioner.

The New York Times

The chamber was especially eager to unseat Justice Oliver Diaz Jr., a former trial lawyer.

The New York Times

And as a former trial lawyer, I contemplate the very worst that can happen.

The New York Times - Sports

Iowa: Until recently, Bruce Braley, the Democratic congressman and former trial lawyer who is seeking to take Tom Harkin's seat, was the strong favorite.

The New Yorker

"This is the main act," said Ted Henneberry, a former trial lawyer at the Justice Department and partner at Orrick Herrington and Sutcliffe.

The New York Times - Tech

As a former trial lawyer, he was sometimes one of the few Republicans to oppose limits on personal injury suits and lawyers fees.

The New York Times

Mr. Thompson, a former trial lawyer, has voted against efforts to impose federal caps on punitive damages and lawyers' fees, a central part of the conservative agenda.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When referring to a specific legal case or scientific study, use "former trial" to clearly distinguish it from any current or subsequent trials. This helps avoid ambiguity and provides context.

Common error

Avoid using "former trial" when simply referring to a past trial without needing to differentiate it from a present one. In such cases, "previous trial" or "past trial" might be more appropriate and concise.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "former trial" functions as an adjective-noun combination. The adjective "former" modifies the noun "trial", specifying that the trial is one that occurred in the past. Ludwig AI confirms that this structure is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

61%

Science

37%

Formal & Business

2%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "former trial" is a common and grammatically correct way to refer to a trial that occurred in the past, particularly when distinguishing it from a current or subsequent trial. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is widely used in diverse contexts, including news, media, and scientific research. To avoid confusion, it's best to use "former trial" when specifying a past trial, rather than using it unnecessarily. In essence, this phrase functions as a clear and concise way to provide context when discussing past legal proceedings or experiments.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

previous trial

Replaces "former" with "previous", maintaining the same meaning but with a slightly different emphasis on temporal order.

past trial

Uses "past" instead of "former", emphasizing the completed nature of the trial.

earlier trial

Substitutes "former" with "earlier", highlighting the chronological sequence of trials.

prior trial

Employs "prior" in place of "former", denoting a trial that precedes the current one.

historical trial

Uses "historical" to emphasize that the trial belongs to the past. Shifts the focus slightly towards the time period.

first trial

Highlights the initial or inaugural nature of the trial, if applicable. Can be used when referring to a sequence of trials.

initial trial

Similar to "first trial", this emphasizes the commencement of a series of trials.

original trial

Indicates the initial trial, possibly suggesting that subsequent trials were variations or retrials. Adds information about its position in a series.

old trial

Uses "old" to denote that the trial occurred some time ago. This is a slightly more informal alternative.

bygone trial

Replaces "former" with "bygone", emphasizing that the trial is a thing of the past. Sounds formal and less common.

FAQs

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

You can use "former trial" to refer to a trial that happened previously, especially when distinguishing it from a current or subsequent trial. For example: "The results of the "former trial" were inconclusive, leading to further investigation."

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

While "former trial" and "previous trial" are often interchangeable, "former" tends to emphasize a more definitive separation or distinction, while "previous" simply indicates something that came before. Choose the one that best fits the specific context.

Are there any synonyms for "former trial"?

Yes, some synonyms for "former trial" include "past trial", "earlier trial", and "prior trial". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

When should I use "former trial" instead of just "trial"?

Use "former trial" when you need to distinguish a specific trial from other trials, particularly when discussing a series of trials or comparing results. If there's no need to differentiate, simply using "trial" may suffice.