the former question

USAGE SUMMARY

'the former question' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to an earlier question that has been asked. Example sentence: I answered the former question, but I'm still not sure how to address this issue.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

29 human-written examples

Clearly the answer to the former question is yes.

The New Yorker

Mr. Christian found the answer to the former question when he discovered the All Stars Project.

The New York Times

Well, the short answer to the former question is an Audi Q7 MLB-Evo platform-based super-SUV with a not-quite-three-metre wheelbase, a two-and-a-half-tonne kerbweight and a rock-solid W12 engine.

Independent

Although it had been principally in the East that the discussion of the former question was carried on though with important additions from the West it was the Western church that provided the most-detailed answers to the question, Granted that this is what Jesus Christ was, how are we to describe what it is that he did?

Encyclopedia Britannica

There are many, many more discussions answering questions like, "What do you guys do about starvation headaches?" than there are questions like, "I am feeling really down; can you help me?" And in no case, in answering the former question, does anyone say, "Um... stop starving yourself".

The New York Times - Magazine

I needed to stop asking, "Given that I am in a relationship with Sarah, what reason do I have to break up with her?" and ask instead, "Given that I am in a relationship and could be in another relationship, or none at all, what reason do I have to stay with her?" Two nice, compromising people could stay together indefinitely if they continued to ask the former question rather than the latter.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

31 human-written examples

Asking the latter rather than the former questions of rape and sexual assault victims has always been the better, more enlightened treatment of the situation, but only with the active consent framework does that superior perspective become the gold standard.

Huffington Post

Since the number of true effects declared by SGoF (K−bα+1) leads to an estimated FDR, the new method informs in an indirect way about 'which FDR is reasonable to assume' for a given data set, answering the former questions (1) and (2) at the same time.

Plosone

(37) The former questions addressed the decedents' last week of life, focusing on symptoms, care, physician communication, care coordination, and the caregiver's ratings of these aspects of care.

Bone Marrow Transplantation

It attempted to address questions such as "What are nurses' perceptions of their own productivity?" and "Which factors improve or diminish nurses' productivity?" To address the former questions a qualitative methodology was adopted.

Human Resources for Health

That followed the criticism Maradona leveled at Pel?ast week, after Pel?the former Brazilian great, questioned whether South Africa could successfully stage the World Cup.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "the former question" to clearly distinguish between two questions that have been presented, ensuring your audience understands which one you are addressing.

Common error

Avoid using "the former question" if more than two questions have been presented. In such cases, specify the question more explicitly to prevent confusion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "the former question" functions as a referential expression, specifically an anaphoric reference. It points back to a question that has been previously mentioned in the text or conversation. Ludwig AI confirms its correct and usable grammar, as evidenced by the examples provided.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

33%

News & Media

33%

Encyclopedias

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "the former question" is a grammatically sound and commonly used phrase to refer back to the first of two questions presented. According to Ludwig AI, it is perfectly acceptable for use in written English. Its function is to avoid repetition and maintain clarity, making it suitable for neutral to formal contexts such as news, science, and academic writing. When using this phrase, ensure that only two questions have been presented to prevent ambiguity. Alternatives include "the previous question" or "the earlier question", but "the former question" is a precise and efficient way to reference the initial inquiry.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

the previous question

Replaces "former" with "previous", a direct synonym, maintaining the reference to an earlier question.

the earlier question

Substitutes "former" with "earlier", indicating a question posed at an earlier time.

the first question

Replaces "former" with "first", specifying that it is the initial question in a sequence.

that question previously mentioned

Uses a more descriptive approach, clarifying that the question was mentioned before.

the question mentioned earlier

Rephrases to emphasize the act of mentioning the question at a prior point.

the aforementioned question

Employs a formal term, "aforementioned", to denote a question already cited.

the prior inquiry

Replaces "question" with "inquiry", adding a slightly more formal tone.

the initial inquiry

Similar to "the first question", highlighting the initial nature of the inquiry.

the question we discussed before

Adds "we discussed before", making it more conversational and explicit.

the question raised earlier

Focuses on the act of raising the question, emphasizing its introduction.

FAQs

How do you use "the former question" in a sentence?

You can use "the former question" to refer back to the first of two questions that have been mentioned. For example, "Regarding the two proposals, the budget impact of "the latter question" requires more investigation than that of "the former question".

What is an alternative to saying "the former question"?

Alternatives include phrases like "the previous question", "the earlier question", or "the first question", depending on the context and level of formality.

When is it appropriate to use "the former question"?

"The former question" is appropriate when you have presented two distinct questions and need to refer back to the first one without repeating it in full. It helps maintain clarity and conciseness in your writing or speech.

What is the difference between "the former question" and "the latter question"?

"The former question" refers to the first of two questions, while "the latter question" refers to the second. They are used together to avoid repetition and clarify which question is being discussed.