my then

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "my then" is not correct or usable in written English.
You could say or write something like "at that time" or "during that period" instead. For example: "I was living in Madrid at that time, my then favorite city."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

30 human-written examples

I fought a brief unsuccessful fight against my then landlord.

The New Yorker

"I was found in a space with my then husband.

The New Yorker

Frankly, I – and my then new husband – got lucky.

The Guardian - Money

(My then girlfriend was friends with a Bullingdon member).

The Guardian - Opinion

Like how to explain adoption to my then 4-year-old.

The New York Times

I learned both of things from my then 6-year-old son, Sam (now 17).

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

30 human-written examples

My then-boyfriend suddenly looked interested.

The Guardian - Travel

'My then-boyfriend and me had got into difficulties.

Independent

A: With my then-spouse, I moved to Los Angeles.

Harvard University

My then-young daughter started calling me 2012 — it was my nickname.

The New York Times

He created Ross Ball, the game my then-3-year-old nephew could never lose.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When referring to past relationships, specify the timeframe or context to avoid ambiguity. For example, "my partner at the time" is more precise than "my then partner".

Common error

Do not directly combine "my" with "then" to indicate a past relationship. This construction is ungrammatical. Use alternatives such as "my former" or "my partner at the time" to maintain clarity and correctness.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "my then" functions as an attempt to specify a past relationship or association. While frequently found, Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically incorrect. The correct way to express this is with "my former" or "at that time".

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

88%

Science

6%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "my then" is a grammatically incorrect attempt to indicate a past relationship or state. Although common in news and media, it's not recommended for formal writing. Ludwig AI suggests opting for phrases like "my former" or "at that time" for improved clarity and grammatical correctness. While its communicative purpose is understandable, its incorrect usage detracts from its effectiveness. When referring to former relationships, specify the timeframe for enhanced precision.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

at that time

Replaces the possessive and adverb with a prepositional phrase indicating a specific point in the past.

back then

A simpler phrase emphasizing a past period without specifying a relationship.

formerly my

Highlights the previous state of a relationship or belonging.

my former

Another way to indicate a past relationship or association.

my past

Emphasizes a connection to a previous period in one's life.

what was then my

This phrase adds a descriptive element, emphasizing the temporal context more strongly.

during that period

Similar to 'at that time', but emphasizes the duration of the past association.

when I was with

Replaces the possessive adjective with a prepositional phrase, expressing the action or state of being in a relationship.

in those days

Highlights that something happened at a time in the past.

the then-current

Uses 'then-current' as a compound adjective to describe something existing at that time.

FAQs

How can I express a past relationship correctly?

Instead of using the grammatically incorrect phrase "my then", you can use alternatives such as "my former", "my past", or "at that time", depending on the context.

Is "my then" grammatically correct?

No, "my then" is generally considered grammatically incorrect. It's better to use phrases like "my former" or "at that time" for clarity and correctness.

What does "my then" attempt to convey?

The phrase "my then" typically tries to indicate a relationship or state that existed at a specific point in the past. However, it's not a standard or grammatically sound way to express this.

What's a more formal alternative to "my then"?

For more formal writing, use phrases such as "formerly my", "what was then my", or phrases including "at that time" for greater precision.