has formerly been

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "has formerly been" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something was true or in a certain state in the past but is no longer the case. Example: "The building has formerly been a school before it was converted into apartments."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

33 human-written examples

This anti-correlation has formerly been interpreted as evidence against a turbulent creation mechanism for PMSE.

Advances in Space Research

She has formerly been the Transitional Justice Director of the Center for Justice and Accountability.

University of California, Berkeley

They go into the temple which has formerly been banned to those of low caste.

The New Yorker

This series of ionic liquids has formerly been studied as to their densities and transport properties and has shown interesting behaviour with respect to their chemical structure [1].

Fluid Phase Equilibria

In the spirit of the Jil Sander/Uniqlo collaboration — but at a middle-market price point — Mr. Theyskens is taking to Main Street an aesthetic that has formerly been seen at the Paris houses Nina Ricci and Rochas.

The New York Times

To our knowledge only one very small numbered in-vivo RSA study evaluating hip joint kinematics has formerly been conducted.

Journal of Experimental Orthopaedics

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

27 human-written examples

It had formerly been 6,000.

The New York Times

However his mother was Italian and had formerly been Catholic.

The Guardian - Opinion

The ladies' conclusion was that the situation, which had formerly been serious, was now desperate.

The New Yorker

What had formerly been an Arab-Kurdish relationship was transformed into a Sunni-Shiite-Kurdish triangle.

The New York Times

Fundamentally, Mr. Jacopetti considered himself a journalist, which he had formerly been.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "has formerly been" to clearly indicate that a state or condition existed in the past but is no longer the case. This phrase adds a touch of formality and precision to your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "has formerly been" when you intend to describe an action that started in the past and is still continuing. "Has formerly been" is strictly for completed past states.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has formerly been" functions as a stative verb phrase indicating a past state or condition that is no longer true. It's used to provide background information or to contrast a past situation with the present, as demonstrated in Ludwig examples.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

48%

News & Media

32%

Academia

12%

Less common in

Wiki

4%

Encyclopedias

2%

Formal & Business

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "has formerly been" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to denote a past state or condition that no longer exists. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is correct and suitable for use in written English. Predominantly found in scientific, news, and academic contexts, it maintains a formal register. When employing this phrase, ensure clarity by contrasting it with present perfect continuous tenses and utilize related alternatives such as "was previously" or "used to be" for nuanced expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was previously

Focuses on the temporal sequence, emphasizing that something existed before.

used to be

Indicates a past habit or state that is no longer the case.

had been

Highlights a past perfect state, often within a narrative context.

once was

Emphasizes a point in the past when something was true.

was once

Similar to "once was", but with a slightly different emphasis on the timeline.

previously was

Inverts the order for a subtle change in emphasis.

formerly was

Reverses word order while retaining similar formality.

has in the past been

Adds emphasis on the time element but becomes slightly verbose.

at one time was

More conversational, indicates a specific point in time.

was at one time

Also conversational, similar to "at one time was" but with slightly altered word order.

FAQs

What does "has formerly been" mean?

The phrase "has formerly been" indicates that something was true or existed in the past, but is no longer true or existent in the present. It suggests a change of state or condition over time.

How can I use "has formerly been" in a sentence?

You can use "has formerly been" to describe something's previous state. For example: "The building "has formerly been" a school before it was converted into apartments."

What are some alternatives to "has formerly been"?

Alternatives include "used to be", "was previously", or "had been". The best choice depends on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

Is "has formerly been" formal or informal?

The phrase "has formerly been" tends to be more formal. In more casual contexts, phrases like "used to be" or "was once" might be more appropriate.