formerly built

USAGE SUMMARY

"Formerly built" is not correct; "formerly" typically modifies verbs, not adjectives like "built." You can use "formerly" with a verb to indicate that something was done in the past. An example could be: "The bridge was formerly built in 1920." Alternative expressions include "previously constructed" and "once built."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

She formerly built artificial-intelligence software for SoftBank Robotics.

MIT Technology Review

Ditch embankments, formerly built from the excavated soil, were used to fill the 8-m wide ditches and grazing was applied to facilitate the recovery of grasslands similar to the surrounding matrix.

Ecological Engineering

To a great extent, the companies with ailing pensions are confined to a few categories: some large corporations with unionized workers, declining old-line industries with many retirees, and once-regulated sectors like power generating, in which government boards formerly built in assumptions about generous pension benefits that today's deregulated markets will not accommodate.

The New York Times

Speak's team formerly built accent detection systems and sold Flashcards+ to Chegg.

TechCrunch

Co-founders Rus Yusupov and Colin Kroll, who formerly built Vine, say not to expect interstitial ads between questions.

TechCrunch

Txtr's co-founders include Christophe Maire and Andreas Steinhauser, who formerly built gate5, which was sold in 2006 to Nokia.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

In Beverly Hills, construction workers are putting the finishing touches on a mansion owned by builder and architect Mohamed Hadid, who formerly designed, built and owned Ritz-Carlton hotels.

The New York Times

That's why the geeky team at exfm (formerly Extension Entertainment) built a browser extension for Chrome that turns the Web into your music library by running silently in the background and indexing every MP3 file you stumble across.

TechCrunch

The Lockheed Martin VH-71 Kestrel is a variant of the AgustaWestland AW101 (formerly EH101) built to replace the United States Marine Corps Marine One U.S. Presidentiall transport fleet.

Wikipedia

Even though it is tied to the artist's future income, it is the type of flexible funding not formerly available, built around the artist's talent and expected ability to repay.

Huffington Post

AMERICAN HOTEL, formerly the Nathan Tinker House, built circa 1845, converted to a hotel in 1876, architect unknown.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing something built in the past, consider using "previously built" or "formerly the site of" to ensure grammatical correctness and clarity.

Common error

Avoid directly modifying past participles like "built" with "formerly". Instead, rephrase to use 'formerly' with a verb, such as 'was formerly built', or choose a more suitable adjective like 'previously'.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "formerly built" functions as an adjectival phrase aiming to describe something that was constructed in the past. However, as Ludwig AI points out, it is grammatically questionable because 'formerly' usually modifies verbs, not adjectives. The intended function is to specify a prior state of construction.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

39%

Wiki

24%

Encyclopedias

11%

Less common in

Science

11%

Academia

3%

Formal & Business

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "formerly built" is used to describe something that was constructed in the past, but according to Ludwig AI, it's considered grammatically incorrect as 'formerly' typically modifies verbs. While present in various sources like news articles and encyclopedias, better alternatives such as "previously built" or rephrasing the sentence are recommended. Its usage is uncommon, and while understandable, careful consideration should be given to grammatical correctness when using this phrase. Ensure you employ "formerly" correctly, typically as an adverb modifying a verb.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

previously constructed

Replaces "formerly" with "previously", offering a grammatically sound alternative with a similar meaning.

formerly constructed

Substitutes "built" with "constructed" to provide a different word choice, while keeping the meaning intact.

once built

Uses "once" instead of "formerly" to indicate a past state of being built.

formerly erected

Replaces "built" with "erected" to offer a formal-sounding alternative.

earlier built

Specifies that the building happened at an earlier point in time.

previously erected

Replaces both "formerly" and "built" with synonyms, providing a complete alternative.

historically built

Emphasizes the historical aspect of the construction, indicating that the building has a significant past.

built in the past

This is a more descriptive phrase that clearly indicates the time frame of the construction.

that was built before

This rephrases the concept as a relative clause specifying a time before the present.

built some time ago

Uses a more casual tone to indicate that the construction occurred in the past.

FAQs

What does "formerly built" mean?

While not strictly grammatically correct, "formerly built" suggests something that was constructed at an earlier time. More appropriate phrasing would be "previously built" or "built formerly".

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

It's generally better to rephrase. Instead of "formerly built", use phrases like "previously constructed" or "built previously".

Is "formerly built" grammatically correct?

According to Ludwig AI, the phrase "formerly built" is not strictly correct. "Formerly" typically modifies verbs. Better options include "previously built" or rephrasing the sentence.

What are some alternatives to "formerly built"?

Alternatives include "previously constructed", "once built", or rewriting the sentence to use "formerly" with a verb.