it formerly was

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it formerly was" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate that something existed or was true in the past but is no longer the case. Example: "The building, which it formerly was, has now been transformed into a modern art gallery."

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

Encyclopedias

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

It already has been extirpated from many areas where it formerly was found, especially in northern Central America, and despite its wide distribution the species as a whole is regarded as Near-Threatened by BirdLife International.

Cornell University

This species generally is considered to be rare, although historical records suggest that it formerly was locally common.

Cornell University

It formerly was present in Honduras, from whence the type specimen originates, but has not been recorded there since the 1850s.

Cornell University

Because of the extensive use of the audio and visual media, however, illiteracy is not as serious a handicap as it formerly was.

Britannica

It formerly was more widespread in Atlantic Brazil, however, but the distribution in this region now is greatly restricted (Sick 1997) and it has disappeared entirely from the southernmost areas that it formerly occupied in Rio Grande do Sul (Belton 1984).

Cornell University

The Masked Tanager's appearance and behavior are similar to those of the Golden-hooded Tanager (Tangara larvata) and the Blue-necked Tanager (Tangara cyanicollis); indeed it formerly was classified as conspecific with the Golden-hooded Tanager (Hilty and Brown 1986, Isler and Isler 1999).

Cornell University

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

It had formerly been 6,000.

The New York Times

Murray's inside-out forehand had become as fallible as it had formerly been lethal.

The Guardian - Sport

Some of those who served at Nama believed it had formerly been used by Saddam's intelligence agencies.

The Guardian

It has formerly been described that MBL genotyping is superior to the measurement of serum levels [ 18].

Critical Care

This variant had not been reported at the BIC mutation database although it had formerly been found in a consanguineous Fanconi anemia patient [ 33].

Breast Cancer Research

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it formerly was" to clearly indicate a change over time, emphasizing that a previous condition or state no longer exists. This is particularly useful when discussing historical contexts or changes in classification.

Common error

Avoid using "it formerly was" when the subject still exists in the same form. This phrase is best reserved for situations where a distinct change has occurred.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it formerly was" functions as a descriptive element within a sentence, indicating a past state or condition that has since changed. Ludwig AI shows its use across various domains.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Academia

38%

Encyclopedias

30%

News & Media

23%

Less common in

Science

8%

Formal & Business

1%

Wiki

0.01%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "it formerly was" is a grammatically correct phrase used to indicate a past state or condition that no longer exists. Ludwig AI confirms its applicability in various contexts, particularly in academic, encyclopedic, and news sources. While not as common as alternatives like "it used to be", it provides a formal and precise way to convey historical changes or transitions. When using this phrase, ensure that the subject has indeed undergone a distinct change and that the context aligns with the phrase's neutral to formal register.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it used to be

This alternative is more informal and emphasizes habitual past actions or states.

it once was

This alternative emphasizes a singular point in the past when the condition existed.

it previously was

This alternative is slightly more formal and emphasizes the sequence of events.

it had been

This alternative uses the past perfect tense, indicating a state completed before another point in the past.

it was previously

This alternative reorders the words, placing emphasis on the 'previously'.

it erstwhile was

This alternative employs a more archaic term, 'erstwhile', making it sound more formal and dated.

it is not now what it was

This alternative offers a more emphatic contrast between the past and present states.

it has since changed

This alternative focuses on the change that has occurred since the past state.

it no longer is

This alternative directly states the cessation of the past condition.

in the past it was

This alternative adds a temporal prepositional phrase for emphasis, indicating a state or condition that existed in the past.

FAQs

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

Use "it formerly was" to describe something that existed or was true in the past, but is no longer the case. For example, "The building, which "it formerly was", has now been transformed into a modern art gallery."

What's a more informal way to say "it formerly was"?

A more informal alternative to "it formerly was" is "it used to be". For example, instead of saying "The restaurant, which it formerly was, is now a bookstore", you could say "The restaurant, which it used to be, is now a bookstore."

Is "it formerly was" interchangeable with "it was formerly"?

While similar, "it formerly was" and "it was formerly" have slightly different emphasis. "It formerly was" emphasizes the past state itself, while "it was formerly" can emphasize the change or transformation that has occurred.

What can I use instead of "it formerly was" when describing a name change?

When referring to a name change, you can use phrases like "it was formerly known as" or simply "it was formerly". For example, "The company, it was formerly known as the U.S. Tobacco Company, is now called Altria."