then fiance

USAGE SUMMARY

The use of the word 'fiance' in a sentence is correct and is used to refer to a person who is engaged to be married. For example: "He proposed to his then fiance on their anniversary."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Viv with her friend (and then fiance) George in 1976.

The Guardian

By 1940, she felt it was time to get married, having had numerous liaisons with future bishops of the Church of England, so placed an advertisement in the Times for a chaperone to accompany her to the far east, where her then fiance lived.

The Guardian

This was my last night raving/clubbing as my then fiance was pregnant, but I still manage to DJ locally round pubs, bars and parties.

Vice

"So it's going to be very odd because I'll be in the spotlight and people will be clapping for me".. His venture into golf took flight earlier this year when he and his then fiance Jill decided to get married in Scotland.

Los Angeles Times

The date he and his, then, fiance, picked out for their marriage, unbeknownst to them, happened to be the 40th anniversary of the car accident that put me in a coma for a month; an event that irrevocably altered my life.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

The video, leaked to TMZ, shows Rice knocking out his then-fiance, now-wife in an Atlantic City elevator.

The Washington Post

When the video of Ray Rice dragging his then-fiance out of an elevator surfaced, people questioned what Janay Rice must have done to instigate the "fight".

The Guardian - Opinion

'Did you give me a rooibos?" splutters Jessie Ware, looking incredulously down at the mug of tea handed to her by Sam, her then-fiance, now husband.

The Guardian - Music

When her then-fiance asked her if she would play again if she had the opportunity to do it all over, Siripipat burst into tears.

The Washington Post

And Monday, a video showing Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice punching his then-fiance inside the elevator of an Atlantic City Hotel surfaced courtesy of TMZ Sports.

The Washington Post

Heyer, a paralegal and activist, joined the march with her friend and co-worker Marissa Blair Martin and Martin's then-fiance, Marcus Martin.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "then fiance" to clearly indicate that the person was a fiance at a specific point in the past, especially when their relationship status has changed.

Common error

Avoid using "then fiance" when the temporal context is already clear. Overusing it can make your writing sound redundant. Ensure it adds valuable information about the timeline of the relationship.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "then fiance" functions as an adjectival modifier combined with a noun. It modifies the noun "fiance" to specify that the person held that status at a particular time in the past. Ludwig examples showcase its use in news and media to provide temporal context.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "then fiance" is a grammatically sound phrase used to specify that someone was a fiance at a particular time in the past. According to Ludwig, it is most commonly found in news and media contexts to provide clarity about relationship timelines. While the phrase is correct, it should be used judiciously to avoid redundancy. Alternatives like "former fiance" may be more appropriate depending on the context. The phrase maintains a neutral register and serves to clarify past relationship statuses. Ludwig AI considers the phrase grammatically correct and clear in its intended function.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

former fiance

Indicates a past engagement that has ended.

future spouse at that time

Highlights the future marital status at a specific point in the past.

intended husband back then

Emphasizes intention and a specific time.

at that time betrothed

Uses a more formal term for engagement.

soon-to-be husband then

Focuses on the impending marriage.

at the time, fiance

Separates 'at the time' for emphasis, slightly changing flow.

fiance at that point

Highlights a specific moment when the person was a fiance.

prospective husband then

Uses a more formal and less common term.

back then, fiance

Reorders the phrase for a different emphasis.

one's fiance at the time

Adds a possessive pronoun for clarity.

FAQs

How to use "then fiance" in a sentence?

Use "then fiance" to specify that someone was a fiance at a particular time in the past, especially when their relationship status has since changed. For example: "She introduced me to her "then fiance", who is now her husband."

What can I say instead of "then fiance"?

Alternatives include "former fiance" if the engagement ended, or phrases like "future husband at that time" to clarify the relationship's status at a specific point.

Is it correct to say "then fiance" or should I use another phrase?

It's correct if you need to emphasize that the person was a fiance at a particular time. Without that context, "fiance" alone might suffice.

What is the difference between "then fiance" and "fiance"?

"Fiance" refers to someone currently engaged. "Then fiance" specifies that the person was a fiance at a past time, implying their status may have changed since "then".