my former debating

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "my former debating" is not correct in standard written English.
It seems to be an incomplete thought and lacks clarity. Example: "In my former debating days, I learned the importance of critical thinking."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

"I pointed her out to my former debating partner.

The New York Times - Style

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

A former debating champion, he has mastered the gentler rhetorical skill of conveying his thoughts through personal anecdotes.

The New York Times

"Watching my former private clients debating bills on TV makes me queasy," she tells me.

Huffington Post

In one of our former debates, I expressed my personal opposition to casino gambling although I believe in the end it's a state decision.

The New York Times

But Dr. McCaskill resisted compensating Mr. Wai, says Robert Hardmond, a former debate adviser.

The New York Times

Also included are interviews with former debate stars like Karl Rove, Jane Pauley and Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr.

The New York Times

The focus on that issue is driven by the adviser who seems to have replaced Mr. Rollins as the closest to Mrs. Bachmann, Brett O'Donnell, a former debate coach at the evangelical Liberty University.

The New York Times

After Mass, he visited James DiGiacomo, his former debate coach at Brooklyn Prep, who lives on the third floor of the home, in a small room with a reclining bed, a tray for meals, and an unused desk.

The New Yorker

She stitched the theme through other chapters of her personal life, the history of the early pilgrims, the Declaration of Independence and — in a rhetorical leap that her policy adviser, Brett O'Donnell, a former debate coach at Liberty University, might have crafted — a critique of President Obama's policies.

The New York Times

The former debate is about the function of imagery in cognition, the latter is about the nature and mechanism of imagery itself.

SEP

One reason offered in support of this view is that the former debate is hopelessly unclear, while the latter is more tractable (Dummett 1978a, pp. 228 232 and Dummett 1991b, pp. 10 15).

SEP

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

For clarity, specify the context or duration of your debating experience. Instead of just saying "my former debating", try "my former debating days" or "my experience in debating".

Common error

Avoid using "my former debating" in isolation, as it sounds unfinished. Always follow it with a noun or phrase that clarifies what aspect of debating you're referring to.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "my former debating" functions as a possessive adjective followed by a noun used adjectivally. However, as pointed out by Ludwig AI, it's generally considered incomplete or awkward without further clarification. The examples show it typically modifies another noun, like "partner" or "coach".

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Wiki

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "my former debating" isn't strictly incorrect, it's often perceived as incomplete and grammatically awkward. As Ludwig AI states, the phrase needs further clarification to avoid ambiguity. Examples show it's typically used to modify nouns like "partner", "coach", or "team". For better clarity and impact, consider alternatives such as "my past debating experience" or specifying the context, like "my time on the debate team". While appearing in neutral registers such as News & Media, its infrequent usage suggests careful consideration is needed when incorporating it into your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

my past debating experience

Replaces "former" with "past" and adds "experience" for clarity.

my previous debating activities

Substitutes "former" with "previous" and "debating" with "activities" to broaden the scope.

when I used to debate

Changes the structure to a clause emphasizing the past habit of debating.

my days as a debater

Focuses on the time period when the person was actively involved as a debater.

my history in debating

Uses "history" to denote a past record or involvement in debating.

my earlier debating career

Replaces "former" with "earlier" and specifies "career" to suggest a more formal engagement.

my time on the debate team

Highlights membership on a debate team as the relevant experience.

my experience with debate

Generalizes the phrase to encompass experience related to debate.

I used to be involved in debating

Expresses past participation in debating in a more conversational manner.

my participation in debate

Highlights participation as a key aspect of past involvement.

FAQs

How can I properly use the phrase "my former debating" in a sentence?

The phrase "my former debating" is generally considered incomplete. For clarity, you should add a noun to specify what you are referring to, such as "my former debating partner" or "my former debating team".

What phrases can I use instead of "my former debating" to describe my experience?

You can use phrases like "my past debating experience", "my previous debating activities", or "my time on the debate team" for better clarity.

Is it grammatically correct to say "my former debating"?

While not strictly ungrammatical, "my former debating" sounds awkward and incomplete. It's better to rephrase to something like "my experience in debating" or specify what aspect of debating you are referring to, such as "my former debating coach".

What's the difference between "my former debating partner" and "my debating partner"?

"My debating partner" implies you are currently partners, while "my former debating partner" indicates someone who used to be your partner in debating but is no longer.