previous member

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "previous member" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to someone who was part of a group or organization before the current members. Example: "The committee reviewed the contributions of the previous member before making their decision."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

21 human-written examples

On the other hand, no previous member of the Blakey family seems to have failed quite as spectacularly as Charles has.

The New York Times - Books

He loves Andrew Bolt and is a Liberal voter but his previous member, Joe Hockey, disgusted him: "That picture of him smoking a cigar, after he said that people who are poor don't drive – that was terrible".

The Guardian

He was a member of the Kentucky Medical Association, as well as a previous member of its Highway Safety Committee and was a previous Chairman of its Disaster Planning Committee.

The New York Times

THE Jane Voorhees Zimmerli Art Museum, on the New Brunswick campus of Rutgers University, is celebrating the 20th anniversary of the founding of the Rutgers Archives for Printmaking Studios with an exhibition of more than 100 print donations from current or previous member studios.

The New York Times

He is a previous member of the Japan Society of Civil Engineers.

International Journal of Advanced Structural Engineering

The proposed approach possesses a general-purpose formulation which can be degenerated into both conversional form-finding formulation and previous member connectivities-finding formulation.

Engineering Structures

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

38 human-written examples

THE panel's previous members resigned or were terminated after the release of Mr. Velella and two co-defendants.

The New York Times

The agency's oversight committee has been replaced, although an investigation cleared the previous members of any criminal wrongdoing.

The New York Times

In a statement on its new page, the group said 3,500 of its previous members have signed up to the website.

The Guardian - Tech

Previous members of the Rangers board, who reacted with hostility to his buy-out of Sir David Murray, believe Whyte's motives at Ibrox are short term.

The Guardian - Sport

"When I arrived, some previous members of staff were expressing the feeling, 'You can't really expect much more from these kind of kids'," says Massey.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When referring to someone who used to be part of a specific organization or group, use the phrase "previous member" to clearly indicate their past affiliation.

Common error

Avoid using "previous member" to simply mean "earlier" or "former" without a clear context of group membership. For instance, instead of saying 'The previous design was flawed', specify whose design it was: 'The previous designer's approach was flawed'.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "previous member" functions as a noun phrase that identifies someone who held a membership in a group, organization, or team at some point in the past. Ludwig confirms that this is a common and acceptable usage. The phrase usually acts as a determiner followed by a common noun.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

32%

Science

44%

Wiki

24%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "previous member" is a common and grammatically correct way to refer to someone who was formerly part of a group or organization. As Ludwig indicates, it's widely used across news, science, and general contexts. While synonyms like "former member" or "past member" exist, "previous member" is a versatile option suitable for many situations. Remember to use it when you need to specify a person's prior affiliation, and avoid misusing it as a general descriptor without context. When referring to a "previous member", ensure that it's clear which group they were a member of, to avoid ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

former member

More formal and direct synonym.

past member

Similar meaning, slightly less formal.

prior member

Similar to "previous", but could also imply order or rank.

ex-member

Shorter, more informal version of "former member".

earlier member

Highlights the temporal aspect of belonging to the group.

preceding member

Similar meaning, but less common.

erstwhile member

More archaic and literary term for a former member.

one-time member

Emphasizes that they were a member only once.

outgoing member

Suggests the member has recently left the group.

alumnus

Specifically used for former members of educational institutions.

FAQs

What does "previous member" mean?

The term "previous member" refers to someone who was a part of a group, organization, or team at some time in the past but is no longer a current member.

What are some alternatives to "previous member"?

You can use alternatives like "former member", "past member", or "prior member" depending on the context and desired level of formality.

Is it correct to say "previous member" or should I use "former member"?

Both "previous member" and "former member" are grammatically correct. "Former member" is generally considered slightly more formal.

How do I use "previous member" in a sentence?

You can use "previous member" in sentences like: "The committee reviewed the contributions of the previous member", or "He is a previous member of the board of directors".