though formerly

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "though formerly" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate a contrast between a past state and the present situation. Example: "The company was once a leader in the industry, though formerly it struggled to gain recognition."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

Though formerly president of Liberia, Taylor is accused of war crimes in neighbouring Sierra Leone.

The Guardian

The short films, though formerly rare, have become available as DVD extras.

The New Yorker

Though formerly treated as its own family (Lennoaceae), Lennooideae has been recategorized as a subfamily by the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group III (APG III) botanical classification system; its taxonomy remains contentious.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Though formerly empowered to select the cabinet, the sovereign is now restricted to the mere formal act of inviting the head of Parliament's majority party to form a government.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Though formerly widespread in sub-Saharan Africa, its numbers have now decreased in most areas.

Wikipedia

So when Medicine, a lower-profile though formerly superior (on 1993's Shot Forth Self Living album) early-90s shoegaze chestnut, reemerged with the appropriately titled To the Happy Few and it was everything MBV wasn't, plus more meaning a stunning, authentically futuristic and proper update of the long-expired sub-genre heads were up asub-genre heads

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

If that were the real reason, though, the burj formerly known as Dubai would more logically have been renamed the Burj Emerati.

The New Yorker

China's one-child policy is the best known and most extreme of these.Now though, as John May, formerly of the World Bank and now Georgetown University, shows in "World Population Policies", the focus of demographers has switched from the overall size of populations to their composition that is, to age groups and their relation to one another.

The Economist

Most of them are settled farmers, though they formerly practiced shifting cultivation.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Seriously, how can anyone write such a sentence referring to "recent advances" as though we formerly thought humans were automatons.

The New York Times

It is as though taste, formerly in the eye of the beholder, had been built directly into the table itself... Writer then visits Dean & DeLuca for tomatoes... Mentions a college argument about taste.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "though formerly" to clearly indicate a change in status or condition over time. This phrase is effective for highlighting transformations or shifts in characteristics.

Common error

Avoid using "though formerly" when simply stating a past fact without implying a contrasting present state. Ensure there's a clear shift or evolution in the situation being described.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "though formerly" functions as an adverbial conjunction, connecting a clause that presents a contrast or concession with a preceding or following clause. As Ludwig AI confirms, this construction is grammatically sound. It introduces information that, while true in the past, contrasts with the current situation.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Encyclopedias

30%

Science

20%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "though formerly" is a grammatically correct and useful construction for indicating a contrast between a past and present state. As Ludwig AI confirms, its function is to connect clauses while highlighting a shift over time. While not the most common phrase, its use is seen across reputable sources such as The New York Times, The Guardian, and Encyclopedia Britannica. When using "though formerly", ensure there is a clear contrast being drawn between a past condition and the current one to avoid misinterpretations. Similar alternatives include "although previously" and "even though in the past".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

although previously

Replaces "formerly" with "previously", maintaining the contrasting meaning.

even though in the past

Emphasizes the temporal aspect of the contrast more explicitly.

while previously

Uses "while" to introduce the contrasting past state.

notwithstanding its former state

A more formal way of expressing the contrast, highlighting the previous condition.

despite its past

A more concise way of conveying the contrast.

although it used to be

A simpler phrasing focusing on the change over time.

though in the past

A shorter version using "in the past" to indicate the previous condition.

formerly, but now

Directly contrasts the past and present states with a conjunction.

previously, even though

Inverts the order slightly to emphasize the present state.

whereas it was previously

Uses "whereas" to set up a direct comparison between past and present.

FAQs

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

Use "though formerly" to introduce a contrasting fact about a subject's past state. For example, "Though formerly widespread, its numbers have now decreased" shows a change in distribution.

What words are similar to "though formerly"?

Synonyms include "although previously", "even though in the past", and "while previously". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "though formerly" formal or informal?

"Though formerly" is generally considered neutral to slightly formal. It is appropriate for academic, news, and professional writing.

What's the difference between "though formerly" and "formerly"?

"Formerly" simply indicates something was true in the past. "Though formerly" introduces a contrast, implying a change from the past state to the present, adding an element of surprise or shift.