formerly to apply

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "formerly to apply" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It seems to be an attempt to express a past action related to applying for something, but it lacks clarity and proper structure. Example: "The guidelines were formerly to apply for the grant by the end of the month."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

After three years with a green card, the formerly illegal immigrants would be eligible to apply to become American citizens.

The New York Times

Formerly illegal immigrants would be eligible to apply, after 10 years in provisional status, for those green cards.

The New York Times

Formerly available methods for expression profiling usually had to apply filtering criteria like signal intensity, "Present" calls and stringent cutoffs for high levels of differential expression to avoid false-positive calls.

Plosone

The dentition of the bank vole, Myodes glareolus (formerly known as Clethrionomys glareolus) offers a challenging case to apply such quantitative methods to unravel the processes underlying phenotypic variation.

Plosone

But when women first won the right to apply for jobs and promotions that were formerly reserved for men, many hesitated to take full advantage of the new opportunities.

The Guardian - Opinion

Which is why WayUp, formerly Campus Jobs, has today unveiled an iPhone app, giving students the opportunity to apply for jobs directly from their smartphone.

TechCrunch

Mrs. Encalada, who formerly worked as a cashier and for an insurance company, was warned by lawyers not to apply for public aid because it would jeopardize the immigration case.

The New York Times

Even Norway's formerly sceptical prime minister, Kjell Magne Bondevik, has recently admitted he feels a "dilemma" over whether to apply to join.

The Economist

One waiver in particular, which appears to apply to Trump's chief strategist, Stephen Bannon, without specifically naming him, grants Administration staff permission to communicate with news organizations where they might have formerly worked (Breitbart News, in Bannon's case).

The New Yorker

Erez Lieberman Aiden (born 1980), formerly known as Erez Lieberman, is an American research scientist active in multiple fields related to applied mathematics.

Wikipedia

The term formerly was applied to sailing vessels having three or more masts; in modern times it usually denotes a vessel of more than 500 tons of displacement.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When indicating past actions related to application, use clearer alternatives like "previously to apply" or "formerly for application" for better readability.

Common error

Avoid using the phrase "formerly to apply" as it's grammatically incorrect and unclear. Instead, opt for more precise and understandable alternatives like "used to apply" or "previously applicable".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "formerly to apply" is an infinitive phrase attempting to express a past action. However, Ludwig AI indicates that this phrase is grammatically incorrect, making its function unclear and ineffective in conveying meaning.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

Science

0%

News & Media

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Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

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Wiki

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Reference

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "formerly to apply" is grammatically incorrect and should be avoided. Ludwig AI confirms this assessment. Correct alternatives, such as "previously to apply" or "used to apply", should be used instead to clearly convey the intended meaning. These alternatives maintain a neutral register and are suitable for various contexts, from formal writing to general communication. The absence of examples highlights the phrase's lack of usage and acceptability in standard English.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

previously to apply

Replaces "formerly" with "previously", offering a more common and direct way to indicate something happened before.

formerly for application

Modifies the structure to indicate that something was intended for application purposes in the past.

used to apply

Indicates a past habit or state of applying something, offering a more concise way to describe past application practices.

previously applicable

Focuses on the applicability of something in the past, shifting the emphasis from the act of applying to the state of being applicable.

in the past to apply

Emphasizes that the action of applying occurred at some point in the past, providing a more explicit temporal reference.

formerly applicable

Highlights the past applicability of something, similar to "previously applicable", but with a slightly different emphasis.

at one time to apply

Indicates that applying something was relevant or necessary at a specific point in the past, offering a sense of a particular historical context.

in earlier times to apply

Suggests that applying something was characteristic of earlier periods, conveying a sense of historical change or evolution.

once applicable

Implies that something was applicable in the past but is no longer so, suggesting a change in circumstances or conditions.

in the past for application

Focuses on past periods when something was used or intended for application, highlighting a temporal aspect of application practices.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "formerly to apply" to be grammatically correct?

You can use alternatives like "previously to apply", "used to apply", or "formerly applicable" depending on the intended meaning.

Is "formerly to apply" considered proper English?

No, "formerly to apply" is not considered proper English. It's best to use grammatically correct alternatives such as "previously applicable".

What's the difference between "formerly to apply" and "used to apply"?

"Formerly to apply" is not a standard English phrase and should be avoided. "Used to apply" indicates a past habit or state and is a grammatically sound alternative.

When should I use "formerly applicable" instead of "formerly to apply"?

The phrase "formerly to apply" is grammatically incorrect. You should always use "formerly applicable" when you want to indicate that something was applicable in the past.