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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak
CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com
formerly undergone
Grammar usage guide and real-world examplesUSAGE SUMMARY
"Formerly undergone" is not correct in standard English usage. It is not usable in written English as it combines two incompatible forms. An example of a correct phrase could be "previously undergone." Alternative expressions include "previously experienced" and "earlier undergone."
⚠ May contain grammatical issues
Science
News & Media
Alternative expressions(20)
previously undergone
previously experienced
already been through
completed earlier
previously having
once having
have experienced
have gone through
had experienced previously
previously encountered
were familiar with
finished ahead of schedule
concluded prematurely
done sooner
accomplished beforehand
finalized in advance
executed in advance
concluded earlier
be prompt
competed earlier
Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Human-verified examples from authoritative sources
Exact Expressions
1 human-written examples
GGS NP have formerly undergone testing for photothermal therapy of solid tumors, which develop within epithelial tissues.
Science
Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources
Similar Expressions
59 human-written examples
We conclude that spinal anesthesia reduces postoperative hemoglobin oxygen desaturation and bradycardia in formerly premature infants undergoing inguinal herniorrhaphy.
Academia
The local arts scene is also thriving, with the Murray Art Museum Albury (MaMa), formerly the Albury Regional Art Gallery, undergoing a $10.5m redevelopment tipped for completion in September.
News & Media
In the camps, the formerly observant boy underwent a profound crisis of faith; "Night" was one of the first books to raise the question: where was God at Auschwitz?
News & Media
Ellevate Network, formerly 85 Broads, has undergone growth and transformation since Sallie Krawcheck took the helm in May , 2013
News & Media
Sydney's Darling Harbour area, formerly a port facility, underwent redevelopment in the 1980s and '90s and has become one of the city's premier entertainment districts, with shops, restaurants, and plazas.
Encyclopedias
As Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, undergoes a somewhat tumultuous transition from a Soviet-style system of economic management to a more market-oriented economy, the number of land-seizure cases appears to be increasing.
News & Media
Also yesterday, a London-based human-rights group called Reprieve released a video, directed by Asif Kapadia, in which the musician and actor Yasiin Bey, formerly known as Mos Def, undergoes nose-to-stomach force-feeding according to military instructions that Al Jazeera leaked in May.
News & Media
For these reasons, liposomal irinotecan (MM-398, formerly known as PEP02) has undergone preclinical and phase I III testing and was recently approved for use as a second-line treatment for metastatic pancreatic cancer.
Recently, however, Myanmar (formerly known as Burma) has undergone a profound shift.
News & Media
All along, Dr. Nasta's favorite building had been 1 Rector Park, a 25-year-old building, formerly a rental, that was undergoing a condominium conversion.
News & Media
Expert writing Tips
Best practice
Opt for more common and grammatically sound alternatives like "previously undergone" or "underwent previously" to ensure clarity and credibility in your writing.
Common error
Be careful not to create redundant phrases. "Formerly" already implies a past state, so avoid pairing it with past participles in a way that creates awkward phrasing. Instead of "formerly undergone", consider using "previously undergone" or rephrasing the sentence.
Source & Trust
86%
Authority and reliability
1.8/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested
Linguistic Context
The phrase "formerly undergone" attempts to act as a modifier, describing something that experienced a process in the past. However, this construction is grammatically unusual and not standard English. Ludwig AI highlights that this is not correct in standard English usage.
Frequent in
Science
30%
News & Media
30%
Formal & Business
10%
Less common in
Encyclopedias
10%
Wiki
10%
Academia
10%
Ludwig's WRAP-UP
In summary, while "formerly undergone" aims to describe a past process, it is not grammatically correct or commonly used in standard English. Ludwig AI's analysis confirms this assessment. It's advisable to use alternatives like "previously undergone" or to rephrase the sentence for better clarity and grammatical correctness. While the intention might be clear, the non-standard phrasing detracts from its effectiveness across various contexts, ranging from scientific writing to news reporting.
More alternative expressions(10)
Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:
previously undergone
Replaces "formerly" with "previously", providing a more standard and grammatically sound alternative.
previously experienced
Substitutes "undergone" with "experienced", resulting in a slightly broader meaning and a more conversational tone.
earlier undergone
Uses "earlier" in place of "formerly", creating a similar meaning with a slightly different emphasis on timing.
in the past undergone
Rephrases the phrase to emphasize the temporal aspect, using "in the past" for clarity.
has undergone before
Rearranges the words and uses "before" to indicate a prior event, altering the sentence structure significantly.
had undergone previously
Employs "had undergone previously" for a more formal and emphatic assertion about a past event.
once underwent
Utilizes "once underwent" to suggest a single instance of something happening in the past.
at one time undergone
Employs "at one time undergone" to indicate a state that existed in the past but may not anymore.
used to undergo
Replaces the structure to focus on a habitual past action that is no longer current.
historically undergone
Emphasizes that something has "historically undergone" a process, adding a sense of historical context.
FAQs
What is a more grammatically correct alternative to "formerly undergone"?
A more grammatically correct alternative is "previously undergone". This phrasing is more standard and avoids the awkwardness of "formerly" combined with a past participle.
How can I rephrase a sentence using "formerly undergone" to improve clarity?
Instead of using "formerly undergone", try rephrasing the sentence to use "underwent previously". For example, "The process formerly undergone" could become "The process underwent previously".
Is there a difference in meaning between "formerly undergone" and "previously undergone"?
While both phrases convey a similar idea, "previously undergone" is more widely accepted and grammatically sound. "Formerly undergone" can sound awkward or redundant.
When is it appropriate to use "formerly" in a sentence?
"Formerly" is appropriate when describing a past state or condition. For example, "The building was formerly a factory" is correct because it describes the building's past state. Avoid using "formerly" directly before a past participle like "undergone".
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Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Source & Trust
86%
Authority and reliability
1.8/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested