Both are noun phrases used to stand in for a previously mentioned noun, so you have to place the definite article the before using either. Use former when you are referring to the first of the two things, and use latter when you are referring to the second of the two things. latter FAQs What are the meanings of former and latter?įormer means “the first of the two.” Former can also mean “previous.” Latter means “second of the two.” When should you use former vs. Former starts with f, as in first, and latter starts with l, as in last. There is an easy way to remember the difference between former and latter: Look at the letters they start with. How to remember the difference between former and latter The dessert options were cannolis or ice cream, and I picked the latter because I’m not much of a pastry person. In the end, our hearts told us to adopt the former. We were stuck between the poodle and the golden retriever. Using an indefinite article, such as an, implies that the noun’s identity is unknown or is general. Use the definite article the before a noun phrase to clarify the noun’s identity to the reader. A noun phrase is used to provide further detail or clarification about a noun, and in this case the noun phrases former and latter are used to clarify which noun a person has picked. Former and latter as noun phrasesįormer and latter are noun phrases, or a phrase that stands in for a previously mentioned noun. The third and fourth quarters of an NBA basketball game take part in the game’s latter half, and Thanksgiving and Christmas occur in the latter half of the year. ![]() Latter can be used as an adjective to refer to the later part of a period of time, usually toward the tail-end or second half. I’m still good friends with my former coworkers. You may also hear someone refer to a team or organization’s former glory, which refers to a time when they were better than they are now. I’m a bigger fan of the songs on the latter half of the album.Īlthough they’re commonly used as noun phrases, former and latter can also be used as adjectives.Īs an adjective, former can mean “previous” or refer to a past state. ![]() They went with the latter because it had more cargo space. Their first car was either going to be a hatchback or a pick-up truck.The New York Yankees and New York Mets both have great stadiums, but the latter has better food options.We could either wait at the airport or get a rental car and drive the rest of the way.If I had to choose between vanilla or chocolate ice cream, I’d go with the latter.Here are five examples of how to use latter in a sentence: We can do this the easy way or the hard way.I like hiking and swimming the former is my favorite hobby.The former boss was stricter than our current supervisor.Gwen spent a lot of time deciding between Harvard and Yale, but in the end went with the former.The host gave us a choice between burgers and hot dogs.Here are five examples of how to use former in a sentence: ![]() In these instances, it’s best to say the first or the third to refer to a particular choice. You should not use former or latter if your list contains more than two things or when you’re using bullet lists. When to use former and latterįormer and latter are used to refer to one of two people, places, or things mentioned earlier in a sentence. Latter can also mean “situated or occurring nearer to the end of something than to the beginning,” according to the Oxford English Dictionary. Latter has a similar history and comes from the Old English word lætra, or “late.” Its definition would also change at the latter half of the 1500s to “second of the two.” The original definition goes back to the mid–12th century and changed around the late 1500s to its current meaning.įormer can also mean “previous” or be used to refer to a past state. Grammarly helps you communicate confidently Write with Grammarly What are the definitions of former and latter?įormer and latter are words that sound old-fashioned to some people, and indeed they are very old words.įormer means “the first of the two.” It comes from the Old English word “forma,” meaning “first or “earliest in time or order,” according to the Online Etymology Dictionary.
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