formerly was

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "formerly was" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate a previous state or condition that has changed over time. Example: "He formerly was the CEO of the company before stepping down last year."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Noyon formerly was an important ecclesiastical centre.

Encyclopedia Britannica

He formerly was chief financial officer.

The New York Times

The women's international distance formerly was 80 metres over 8 hurdles 76.2 cm high.

Encyclopedia Britannica

West Berlin formerly was forced to generate its own power, adding to urban pollution.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Her mother formerly was a lecturer on the Korean language at Carleton University in Ottawa.

The New York Times - Style

We're witnessing the reversal of what formerly was recognized as social progress.

The New York Times

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

The New York Times

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

The New York Times

India formerly was a large producer of gold from lode mines, but the best ores appear to have been exhausted.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

The private liberal arts college formerly was known as Randolph-Macon Women's College.

The Guardian

She formerly was a longtime resident of Manhasset and summer resident of Southold, New York.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "formerly was" to clearly indicate a change in state or position over time. It is effective in formal writing when precision about past conditions is needed.

Common error

Avoid using "formerly was" when describing something that is still true. This phrase indicates a past state that has changed.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "formerly was" serves as a linking phrase that connects a subject to a past state or condition. Ludwig examples show its usage in various contexts to indicate something's previous role, position, or characteristic, emphasizing a change over time.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

37%

Encyclopedias

32%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

9%

Wiki

5%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "formerly was" is a linking phrase used to indicate a past state or condition that has changed. Ludwig AI confirms that it is grammatically correct and commonly used. It appears frequently in News & Media, Encyclopedias, and Scientific contexts. Alternatives include "used to be" and "previously was". When using "formerly was", ensure you are describing a genuine change and not something that is still true. Its usage signals a transformation and provides historical context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

used to be

Emphasizes a habitual or continuous state in the past.

previously was

Highlights the temporal sequence of events.

had been

Implies a state that existed before another past event.

once was

Suggests a state that existed at some indefinite time in the past.

was formerly

Inverts the word order while retaining the same meaning.

earlier was

Highlights that something was at an earlier time.

prior to being

Expresses a condition before a current state.

at one time was

Emphasizes that the state existed during a specific period.

in the past was

Clearly indicates that something occurred in the past.

before was

Simplifies the expression to indicate a previous state.

FAQs

How do I use "formerly was" in a sentence?

Use "formerly was" to describe a past state, condition, or position that is no longer true. For example, "The building "formerly was" a post office but is now a restaurant."

What are some alternatives to "formerly was"?

You can use alternatives such as "used to be", "previously was", or "had been" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "was formerly" instead of "formerly was"?

While grammatically correct, "was formerly" is less common and may sound slightly more awkward than ""formerly was"". The choice depends on the desired emphasis or flow of the sentence.

What is the difference between "formerly was" and "is now"?

"Formerly was" describes a past state, while "is now" describes the current state. Using them together highlights a change over time. For example, "He "formerly was" a teacher, but he is now a principal."