What does latter and former mean? Former refers to the first of a set , while latter refers to the second , or last , item. They usually appear in the sentence immediately following the sequence they are describing.
The terms former and latter are words used to distinguish between two things. Do not use former or latter when you are writing about more than two things. When former is used in the sense of former vs. Former means being the first of two persons or things mentioned. I was accepted to Harvard and Yale for college.
The former school had cheaper tuition. See full list on writingexplained. Just as former can function as both an adjective and noun, so can latter. It comes from the comparative form of Old English laet: laetra, which meant “slower.
We went to the beach with Steve and Susie, the latter of whom would not stop complaining. You need to replace the tie-rod or the ball joint, the latter of which being more exp. You might be tempted to use former and latter with more than just two items, and although this tendency comes to the surface every now and then—even in respectable sources—it should be avoided. Both former and latter have identical rules of usage. But, they can also function as nouns , if you add the before them.
In contrast, the adjective latter describes the second subsequent item for a list of two , the last item in a sequence , or the nearest occurring event from the past. Unlike former, the word latter can reference time or events that occur in the future. Former’ refers to the first of the two things or people that are mentioned previously while ‘latter’ refers to the second of the two things or people mentioned.
Former’ means ‘older,’ and ‘latter’ means ‘the most recent or the latest. To help you remember this difference, here’s a small trick: “former” and “first” both start with “f”, while “latter” and “last” also start with the same letter. A former is a structural member of an aircraft fuselage , of which a typical fuselage has a series from the nose to the empennage , typically perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the aircraft. The primary purpose of formers is to establish the shape of the fuselage and reduce the column length of stringers to prevent instability.
Former and latter often appear together in formal or academic writing. You may also occasionally hear them in spoken English, especially in more formal settings such as a speech or during a business meeting. When used together, these two words refer to two items in a sequence. Former points to the first of the two items in the sequence. Cats and dogs are both popular types of pets.
However, the former requires less exercise. When to use former : Former is an adjective that has several different definitions, all of which relate to something that is previous to another thing or time. For the first definition, former can mean the first of two items mentioned in a sequence. The second definition is something from a previous or earlier time.
The third and final meaning indicates a position or state that a person had in the past, but no longer holds. Costa Rica has both monkeys and sloths in its jungles. Firstly, it can mean the last of two items mentioned in a sequence. Secondly, it can be used as a synonym for later or near the end. The recipe calls for both butter and milk, although only the latter is essential.
During the latter part of the 20th century, huge strides had been made within the field of technology. Former starts with the letter f, as does the word first. There aren’t any common expressions with latter.
It’s also important to remember to use both of these words only in a sequence of two items. If the list has three or more items, these words won’t make sense. As the Senate prepares to vote this week on its Republican leaders’ quest to demolish the Affordable Care Act, a former GOP senator from a more bipartisan time is pleading with his successors to resist “bullying” to support a bill they do not yet understand.
The Angels traded two minor league pitchers to the Washington Nationals for Espinosa in December, hoping he could provide good defense and some pop at the plate. He did the former, but not the latter. Instructions: Select the correct word to fit in the blanks, either latter or former. Pandas and koalas are both popular animals.
The ______________ is native to Australia. That is my ______________ best friend. We had a big fight and don’t talk anymore. He’s a member of the Church of ________ Day Saints. Should I use former or latter ? Use these words when referring to two listed items in a sequence.
Remember that former always refers to something at an earlier or previous time or position, and latter is similar to the meaning of later. Example: “Red and blue are popular colors, but the latter is more popular. Blue: the second of two persons) Here’s a trick to remember the differences: the word “former” means “first” and both begin with the letter “f. Both former and latter have identical rules of usage. Note that this can only be used to distinguish between two items.
Never use former and latter when you’ve referred to more than two things. Former describes the thing that was mentioned first. Both words can also function as a noun in sentences, in which case they are absolute adjectives.
It’s bizarre to talk about the latter but not the former. Decide whether you have to use later or latter : My neighbours have a son and a daughter : the former is a teacher, the _____ is a nurse. I will address that at a _____ time. John arrived at the party _____ than Mary did.
Of apples, oranges, and grapes, the last is my favorite. I prefer the _____ offer to the former one. I take flute, violin, and piano lessons. I like the last one most. Maria speaks Spanish and English.
She’s still perfecting the latter. It means the second or last of something. Elsewhere, the terms former and latter refer to the first and second items, respectively, in a list or comparison. It is used in formal conversations, to define the time near the end of a period.
But you will also often meet the word in the structure the latter. Latter is an adjective.