then partner

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "then partner" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used whenever someone wants to refer to a particular person who they are working with on a project, endeavor, or any other form of cooperation. For example, "I met with my business partner earlier today, then partner and I discussed our next steps."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

41 human-written examples

Emily Spink never dreamed her then partner would hurt her.

The Guardian

I had met her and her then partner on the street the day before.

The New Yorker

He began singing on the radio with then partner Shorty Ranger in 1940.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Her then partner, the actor Jim Carrey, lent his voice to her anti-inoculation quest.

Independent

She and her then partner, and their children, went into hiding.

The Guardian - Books

It turned DeGeneres and her then partner Anne Heche into celebrities, until the show was cancelled.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

19 human-written examples

Keen to live in the country, he moved to Hertfordshire with his then-partner, Sylvia.

Independent

When he was 14, however, the then-partner of his adoptive mother was badly injured in a shooting.

Yale University

In that competition, he failed to win a medal and was heavily criticised by then-partner Blake Aldridge.

Independent

FOR an entire year, Joe Foxton and his then-partner looked in vain for an East Village condominium.

The New York Times

He said his then-partner, Mike Donilon, was contacted by Manafort's then-partner, Richard Gates, in 2005 about working for the Party of Regions, a pro-Russia political party in Ukraine.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "then partner" to clearly indicate a partnership that existed at a specific time in the past, especially when discussing a sequence of events or changes in relationships.

Common error

Avoid using "then partner" when referring to a present relationship. Use "current partner" or simply "partner" to indicate the ongoing nature of the partnership.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "then partner" functions as a temporal specifier combined with a noun, indicating a partnership that existed at a specific point in the past. It clarifies the timing of the relationship, differentiating it from current associations. As confirmed by Ludwig, it's a grammatically correct and usable construction.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

77%

Academia

12%

Science

6%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

1%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "then partner" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase to denote a partnership that existed at a specific time in the past. According to Ludwig, it is suitable for various contexts, with a prevalent usage in News & Media. When writing, it's important to use "then partner" to clarify relationships that are no longer current and to avoid confusion with ongoing partnerships. As shown in the Ludwig examples, the phrase frequently appears in news articles, academic papers, and general media, indicating its broad acceptance and understandability. Be mindful not to mix it with current relationships; use "current partner" instead for present-day associations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

former partner

Emphasizes the end of the partnership.

previous partner

Highlights that the partnership occurred before the current one.

ex-partner

A more concise way to indicate a past partnership.

one-time partner

Indicates that the partnership was a singular event or of limited duration.

erstwhile partner

A more formal way of saying "former partner".

prior collaborator

Focuses on the collaborative aspect of the partnership in the past.

then associate

Indicates a past association, often in a professional context.

past colleague

Highlights the professional relationship that existed in the past.

earlier co-worker

Specifies a working relationship from an earlier time.

previous ally

Emphasizes a past alliance or supportive relationship.

FAQs

How can I use "then partner" in a sentence?

You can use "then partner" to refer to someone who was your partner at a specific time in the past. For example, "She and her "then partner" started a business together in 2010".

What's the difference between "then partner" and "former partner"?

"Then partner" specifies a time frame when the person was your partner, while "former partner" simply indicates that the person is no longer your partner. "Then partner" provides more context about when the partnership existed, while "former partner" focuses on the end of the relationship.

What are some alternatives to using "then partner"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives such as "previous partner", "ex-partner", or "past collaborator" to convey a similar meaning.

Is it correct to use "then-partner" with a hyphen?

Yes, "then-partner" is also grammatically correct and often used, especially when it acts as a compound adjective before a noun. Both "then partner" and "then-partner" are acceptable, but the hyphenated version can improve readability in some cases.