she formerly

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "she formerly" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate a previous state or role of a person, often in a context where you are discussing their past. Example: "She formerly held the position of director before moving to a new company."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

52 human-written examples

Palin is unpopular in the state she formerly led.

The Guardian

She formerly worked for the media regulator Ofcom.

The Guardian

Tells about their early life, she formerly Elizabeth Bacon.

The New Yorker

She formerly worked on the House Select Committee on Narcotics Abuse and Control.

Independent

It is a nice change from the occasional pigeon she formerly glimpsed.

The New York Times

She formerly was a longtime resident of Manhasset and summer resident of Southold, New York.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

5 human-written examples

From her bench in Queens, she said, every day she sees formerly middle-class families wrenched by anger and fear.

The New York Times

While she was formerly a staff writer for Jezebel, she is now with Newsweek.

The New York Times

She was formerly a corporate lawyer in New York and Stockholm, where she never learned to like herring.

Huffington Post

She was formerly known as SS West Arrow when she was launched for the during World War I.

Wikipedia

She was formerly of Roslyn, NY.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "she formerly" to clearly indicate a past role or state, especially when contrasting it with her current situation or role. For example, "She formerly worked as a teacher, but now she is a principal."

Common error

Avoid using "she formerly" when the past action or state continues to the present. Use the present perfect tense instead. For example, instead of "She formerly lives in New York," say "She has lived in New York."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "she formerly" functions as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb. It indicates that the action or state described by the verb was true at an earlier time. Ludwig AI confirms its correct and usable status.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "she formerly" is a grammatically sound and widely used adverbial phrase used to indicate a past state or role of a female subject, and can be verified from Ludwig. It is commonly found in news and media contexts to provide background or contrast with a current situation. Alternatives such as "she previously" or "she once" can be used depending on the specific nuance you want to convey. When using this phrase, be mindful of tense consistency and ensure it accurately reflects a past, completed state or role.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

she previously

Replaces "formerly" with "previously", offering a direct synonym.

she was previously

Combines "was" with "previously" to describe a past role or state.

she once

Uses "once" to indicate a past time when she held a certain position or state.

she had been

Emphasizes a completed action or state in the past.

she used to be

Indicates a past state or role that is no longer current.

she at one time

Highlights a specific time in the past when she held a position or status.

she in the past

A more general way to indicate a past state or role.

she erstwhile

Uses "erstwhile" as a more formal or archaic synonym for "formerly".

she before

A shortened form to indicate a past action or state.

her prior

Uses "prior" to define previous role.

FAQs

How can I use "she formerly" in a sentence?

Use "she formerly" to indicate a previous role, position, or state that a woman held. For example: "She formerly worked as a teacher, but now she is a principal."

What phrases are similar to "she formerly"?

Alternatives include "she previously", "she once", or "she used to be", depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "she formerly is"?

No, "she formerly is" is incorrect. Use "she formerly was" or "she was formerly" to correctly indicate a past state or role.

What's the difference between "she formerly" and "she previously"?

While both indicate a past state, "she formerly" often implies a more defined role or position, whereas "she previously" can refer to any prior state or action. "She formerly was the CEO" implies a formal role, while "She previously lived in London" refers to a past residence.