formerly with

USAGE SUMMARY

'formerly with' is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is often used to indicate a previous association or occupation. Example: John was formerly with a prestigious law firm before starting his own practice.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

He was formerly with the Boston Consulting Group.

Harvard Business Review

The irrepressible Ms. Latsky, formerly with Bill T.

The New York Times

Katherine Wei: Reporter formerly with Taiwan's China Post.

University of California, Berkeley

Mr. Brouwer called the fund's manager, Jeffrey Gundlach, formerly with TCW, "a super bond manager".

The New York Times

Tom Clines, a weapons specialist formerly with the C.I.A., visited Marbella and negotiated the deal.

The New Yorker

Macy Halford, formerly with The New Yorker's "Book Bench" blog, is working on a memoir.

The New York Times - Magazine

His primary concern, though, is connecting — formerly with juries, now with voters.

The New Yorker

Formerly with Towers Perrin, Leon was a Senior VP Human Resources, American Express.

The New York Times

His trainer was Eduard Mienchakov, formerly with the Ukrainian national boxing team.

The New Yorker

"I've played for some bad teams," said Lidle, formerly with Tampa Bay.

The New York Times - Sports

Mr. Merritt was formerly with HSBC, where he was head of global metals.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "formerly with" to clearly and concisely indicate a past affiliation, especially when highlighting someone's credentials or background.

Common error

Avoid using "formerly with" to describe a current affiliation. The phrase specifically denotes a past association. For present affiliations, use "with" or other appropriate prepositions.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "formerly with" functions as a prepositional phrase modifying a noun or pronoun. It indicates a past association or affiliation. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase's correct usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Academia

25%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Science

5%

Reference

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "formerly with" is a versatile and grammatically correct phrase used to denote a past affiliation or employment. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, the phrase appears frequently in news, academic, and business contexts, making it a valuable tool for providing background information in a clear and professional manner. While alternatives exist, "formerly with" is a direct and effective way to communicate previous associations. Remember to avoid using it to describe current affiliations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

previously associated with

Replaces "formerly" with "previously" and uses the broader term "associated" instead of "with", softening the direct connection.

once affiliated with

Similar to "previously associated with" but emphasizes a point in the past.

formerly employed by

Specifies the relationship as employment, which may be more precise in some contexts.

used to work at

More informal phrasing indicating past employment.

had a tenure at

Implies a significant period of involvement.

held a position at

Highlights that an individual occupied a specific role in the past.

served at

Suggests service or a particular function within an organization.

was a member of

Suggests a less formal or employment-based affiliation.

belonged to

Suggests a sense of belonging or membership in the past.

was connected to

A more general expression of past association.

FAQs

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

Use "formerly with" to indicate someone's previous affiliation or employment, such as "She was "formerly with" a major law firm before starting her own practice".

What are some alternatives to "formerly with"?

You can use alternatives such as "previously associated with", "formerly employed by", or "used to work at" depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to use "formerly with" in formal writing?

Yes, "formerly with" is suitable for formal writing as it provides a clear and professional way to indicate someone's previous affiliation.

What's the difference between "formerly with" and "currently with"?

"Formerly with" indicates a past affiliation, while "currently with" indicates a present affiliation. Using the correct phrase is crucial to avoid confusion.