former won

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "former won" is not correct and does not make sense in written English.
It seems to be an incomplete or incorrect expression, and without context, it is unclear what it is intended to convey. Example: "In the last election, the former won by a significant margin."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

The former won Capra the Oscars he craved.

The Guardian

Both were screened at Cannes, and the former won the festival's best actress award for Juliette Binoche.

The Guardian - Film

Affleck and Cranston previously worked together on Iranian hostage crisis film Argo, for which the former won a slew of directorial awards.

Independent

The former won the Booker Prize, and in 1993 was adjudged the "Booker of Bookers", from the prize's first 25 years.

The Guardian - Books

This is no standing start: Evergrande and Beijing Guoan attract average crowds of more than 40,000 and the former won the Asian Champions League in 2015.

The Guardian - Sport

The former won many a patriotic heart by helping to murder Kurdish separatists; the latter makes much of links to Turkish groups fighting Armenian terrorists.Still, Mr Cakici's arrest offers a ray of hope.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

"The better Harry Reid does, the harder it is for Rory," says Mr Herzik, who thinks the likeliest outcome is that the former wins and the latter loses.

The Economist

— Glenn Collins The New York Times Magazine: Mark Bittman weighs East against West — miso against Parmesan — and decides the former wins out for versatility.

The New York Times

Veep and The Thick of It have both won top television awards, with the former winning Emmys and the latter Baftas.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Both went on to secure spectacular success at the Academy awards, with the former winning best picture and director, and the latter best director and VFX.

The Guardian - Film

7.06pm GMT 48 min Townsend and Chadli have swapped flanks, and the former wins a corner, Spurs' first of the evening.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Ensure that the context makes it clear what "former" refers to. Providing the nouns that 'former' replaces avoids ambiguity, like 'The former candidate won the election.'

Common error

Avoid using "former won" without clearly establishing what "former" refers to. Without a clear antecedent, the sentence becomes confusing and grammatically weak. For example, instead of "Both candidates ran strong campaigns, but the former won", specify: "Both candidates ran strong campaigns, but the former candidate won".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "former won" functions as a concise expression indicating that a previously mentioned entity has achieved victory or success. As Ludwig AI points out, context is crucial for its correct interpretation. It requires a clear antecedent for the "former" to avoid ambiguity.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Wiki

20%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Science

10%

Reference

10%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "former won" is commonly used, it's essential to ensure clarity by providing a clear antecedent for "former". According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is considered grammatically questionable without sufficient context. It's most frequently found in news and media, wiki, and encyclopedias, and its formality is generally neutral. For more formal or academic writing, consider using alternative phrases like "the first one prevailed" or "the initial party was victorious" to enhance precision. Pay close attention to the surrounding text to avoid ambiguity and ensure your intended meaning is accurately conveyed. Keep in mind that the grammatical status is considered incorrect, according to Ludwig AI, without a complete context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

the first one prevailed

Replaces "former" with "the first one" and "won" with "prevailed", changing the wording while retaining the core meaning of success.

previously named succeeded

A more concise alternative, replacing "former" with "previously named" and "won" with "succeeded".

the initial party was victorious

Substitutes "former" with "the initial party" and "won" with "was victorious", offering a more formal tone.

earlier competitor prevailed

Changes "former" to "earlier competitor" and "won" to "prevailed", suitable for competitive scenarios.

the prior contestant succeeded

Replaces "former" with "the prior contestant" and "won" with "succeeded", adjusting the context to a competition or contest.

the original achieved success

Focuses on the origin, replacing "former" with "the original" and "won" with "achieved success".

that previously mentioned triumphed

Uses "that previously mentioned" instead of "former" and replaces "won" with "triumphed", intensifying the sense of victory.

the first in line was the victor

Implies a sequence or order, replacing "former" with "the first in line" and "won" with "was the victor".

the one earlier specified emerged as the winner

Substitutes "former" with "the one earlier specified" and "won" with "emerged as the winner", providing a more descriptive and detailed phrasing.

the precedent selection was triumphant

Uses "the precedent selection" in place of "former" and replaces "won" with "was triumphant", suggesting a groundbreaking victory.

FAQs

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

To use "former won" correctly, ensure there's a clear antecedent to what "former" is referring to. For example, instead of saying just "the former won", specify: "Of the two options, the "former choice" won".

What does "former won" imply in a competition or election?

In the context of a competition or election, "former won" implies that of two previously mentioned entities (e.g., candidates, teams), the first one achieved victory.

Is "former won" always grammatically correct?

No, "former won" isn't always grammatically correct. It requires a clear prior reference. Without it, the sentence lacks context and is unclear. Always specify what the "former" refers to.

What are some alternative ways to say "former won"?

Alternatives include "the "first one prevailed"", "the "initial party was victorious"", or "the "prior contestant succeeded"", depending on the context.