was previously married

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was previously married" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate someone's past marital status before their current relationship or situation. Example: "She was previously married but is now happily single."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

The bridegroom was previously married.

The New York Times - Style

Robertson was previously married many years ago.

The New York Times

He was previously married to Linda Nix.

Encyclopedia Britannica

He was previously married to Jennifer Bitterman.

The Guardian

She was previously married and divorced.

The New York Times - Style

Shelly was previously married to Selma Pollets Roen.

The New York Times

He was previously married to Nedra Henderson and Sandra Kalb.

The New York Times - Books

Wade was previously married to former EastEnders star Ross Kemp.

The Guardian

He was previously married to Marie-Dominique Culioli.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

Clooney was previously married to Talia Balsam, whom he divorced in 1993.

BBC

The former Olympian was previously married to Linda Thompson and Chrystie Scott, and had two children with each of them.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about someone's marital history, use "was previously married" to clearly and concisely state that they had a marriage that ended before their current relationship. This phrasing avoids ambiguity and is widely understood.

Common error

Be careful not to use vague language when discussing marital history. Saying someone "used to be married" can be unclear. "Was previously married" clearly indicates a past marriage that has ended.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was previously married" functions as a descriptor, providing information about an individual's marital history. It indicates a past marital status that is no longer current. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

96%

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

2%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "was previously married" is a grammatically correct and very common phrase used to clearly indicate a person's prior marital status. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and widespread use. It is most frequently found in news and media contexts and serves the purpose of informing readers about a person's background. While neutral in register, it's important to use this phrase accurately to avoid ambiguity, especially when discussing someone's marital history. Alternatives like "had been married before" or "was formerly married" can be used for variety, but the key is to maintain clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had been married before

Rephrases the idea using "had been" to emphasize a past state.

was formerly married

Uses "formerly" as a synonym for "previously".

is a former spouse of

Shifts the focus to the state of being a 'former spouse'.

once married

Simplifies the phrasing to "once married".

experienced a previous marriage

Uses more formal vocabulary.

went through a prior marriage

Emphasizes the experience of the marriage.

divorced before current marriage

Highlights the divorce as a precursor to the current marital status.

had a marriage that ended

Focuses on the ending of a previous marriage.

was in a past marriage

Uses a more general phrasing.

is a divorcee

Indicates the person has been divorced.

FAQs

How to use "was previously married" in a sentence?

Use "was previously married" to indicate that someone had a marriage that ended before their current situation. For example, "She was previously married but is now engaged to someone new."

What can I say instead of "was previously married"?

You can use alternatives like "had been married before", "was formerly married", or "once married" depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to use "was previously married" in formal writing?

Yes, "was previously married" is appropriate for formal writing. It's a clear and professional way to state someone's past marital status.

What's the difference between "was previously married" and "is divorced"?

"Was previously married" indicates that someone had a prior marriage that ended, without explicitly stating the reason. "Is divorced" specifically means that the person's prior marriage ended in divorce.