formerly being

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "formerly being" is not correct and usable in written English.
It is generally not used because "formerly" already indicates a past state, making "being" redundant. Example: "He was formerly the CEO of the company before stepping down."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Also, what was with the SNP formerly being headed by a person called Salmond and now by a person called Sturgeon?

BBC

Despite formerly being working class, Summer Hill and many of the surrounding suburbs have gradually undergone gentrification over recent years.

Wikipedia

Aptly dubbed 'Hell's Kitchen' because of its formerly being the hang out for New York's Irish Mafia (and the proclivity of the neighborhood residents to dispose of dead bodies in the Hudson River), HK had a bad rep.

Huffington Post

Netanyahu is serving his fourth term as Israel's prime minister, the second time he has held the position after formerly being elected to the office from 1996 to 1999. .

Huffington Post

Starr lent depth to the conversation by bringing his background of formerly being a concert promoter for Bob Marley and the Wailers as well as heading up the NY William Morris Agency film office where he repped greats such as Larry David and Andy Warhol.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

Noyon formerly was an important ecclesiastical centre.

Encyclopedia Britannica

He formerly was chief financial officer.

The New York Times

Your attorney, Mr. Holscher, formerly was an assistant United States attorney.

The New York Times

However his mother was Italian and had formerly been Catholic.

The Guardian - Opinion

Mr. Denison, 60, formerly was chief financial officer at Southwest Airlines.

The New York Times

The ladies' conclusion was that the situation, which had formerly been serious, was now desperate.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a past state, prefer concise alternatives like "formerly", "previously", or "once" followed by a verb in the appropriate tense to avoid redundancy. For example, instead of saying "formerly being the CEO", use "formerly the CEO".

Common error

Avoid using "being" after "formerly". The word "formerly" already indicates something was true in the past, so adding "being" is unnecessary and makes the sentence awkward. Using it may dilute your text, complicating the overall message.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "formerly being" functions as a gerund phrase, attempting to describe a past state of existence or activity. However, as Ludwig AI indicates, it's generally considered redundant, making the phrase grammatically awkward. The word "formerly" already conveys past tense, the addition of "being" is unnecessary.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "formerly being" appears in some sources, Ludwig AI and grammatical analysis suggest it's generally incorrect and redundant. The word "formerly" already indicates a past state, making "being" unnecessary. Prefer more concise alternatives like "formerly was", "previously was", or simply rephrasing to use "formerly" or "previously" followed by the appropriate verb tense. Pay attention to avoid redundancy and opt for clarity and conciseness in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

previously being

Replaces "formerly" with "previously", which has a very similar meaning. No significant change in meaning.

having formerly been

Adds "having" to create a perfect gerund, emphasizing the completed nature of the past state. Slightly more formal.

once being

Replaces "formerly" with "once", which denotes a past time. Slightly less formal.

in the past being

Uses a more descriptive phrase to convey the idea of a past state. Less concise.

earlier having been

Emphasizes that something was in a state earlier than now.

used to be

A common idiom indicating a past state or condition. Simpler and more direct.

before being

Indicates what something was immediately before its current state. Focuses on transition.

previously having served as

More descriptive of the previous role of a person. Limited to that particular context.

at one time being

Emphasizes that at some unspecified time in the past, something was in a certain state.

that formerly was

Rephrases the construction to avoid the gerund form completely. More formal tone.

FAQs

Is "formerly being" grammatically correct?

While understandable, "formerly being" is often considered redundant. "Formerly" already implies a past state, making "being" unnecessary. It's better to use a simpler construction like "formerly was" or "previously was".

What are some alternatives to "formerly being"?

Consider using alternatives such as "previously being", "used to be", or rephrasing the sentence to use "formerly" or "previously" with a past tense verb.

How can I use "formerly" correctly in a sentence?

Use "formerly" directly before the verb or adjective it modifies. For example, instead of "He was formerly being the CEO", say "He was "formerly the CEO"" or "He previously served as CEO".

What's the difference between "formerly being" and "formerly"?

"Formerly being" is a redundant construction, while "formerly" is an adverb that correctly indicates a past state or condition. Using "formerly" alone makes your sentences clearer and more concise.