Example “When replacing the filter and batteries, throw out the former and take the latter to … Most people choose the former. Translate Former and latter. Summary. Former and latter are important adjectives, as they create an easy way to enrich your speech while listing two items in a sequence. Both former and first start with the letter “F.” Latter is the last word. Former and latter are valid only when there are two choices. Did he dance or sing? Former and latter are 2 words used to refer to 2 previously mentioned things. Note that this can only be used to distinguish between two items. The two terms can be used in the same sentence to indicate an item in a sequence or can be used individually. See Spanish-English translations with audio pronunciations, examples, and word-by-word explanations. Both latter and last start with the letter “L.” You can also remember that latter comes later than does former. Never use former and latter when you’ve referred to more than two things. Short sentences may be clearer if the noun is repeated. Let’s use the same examples of “former” to explain it. degree-of-comparison. Also, the two have alternate meanings. It’s cumbersome! Knowing the difference between the two shows you know your English vocabulary well. Examples: It could be a noun or an adjective depending on the context of usage. Latter is the second of two mentioned things. He tracked down his cousin and uncle. The terms the former and the latter are used instead of a pair of names, nouns, or groups, to avoid repetition.These terms should be used sparingly. Latter definition: Latter is also an adjective.It is the opposite of former; it means the second in a list of two things.. For example, Aveline went steady with the quarterback her junior year and the punter her senior year, and she married the latter athlete. Latter vs Former Examples. Latter is the opposite of former. The words “former” and “latter” do not mean the same or cannot be used interchangeably in texts. Former refers to the first thing mentioned, while latter is the second thing mentioned. Improve this question. One can travel there by bus or train. Share. Of the two options, Mary prefers the latter. How to Use Latter. The following is a good example of a passage that relies on former and latter to create a bridge between two sentences: The Congress of Paris was announced in Comœdia and L’ère nouvelle. “Former” and “Latter”; “Respectively” Avoid using these words to refer back to previous items in your sentence, as they force the reader to reread the items. SUCH are the climate and soil of Palestine, that all agricultural operations are most manifestly dependent upon the periodical rainfall. Use latter and former when listing two words to make your speech, or writing flow naturally and as close to a native one. Former is the first of two mentioned things. “Latter” is, in fact, the opposite word of “former”. My sister offered me a T-shirt or a dress and I chose the latter. Instead, restate the items or reword the sentence. Follow edited Jul 8 '18 at 15:49. And even if you change things around and warn people to look out for the former or latter point before stating them, it sounds a little pompous. The Former and the Latter Rain “Let us now fear the Lord our God, that giveth rain, both the former and the latter, in his season: he reserveth unto us the appointed weeks of the harvest.”— Jeremiah 5:24. Of shopping and chatting, she much preferred the former. Former is the first word. To tell you the truth, using words like “former” or “latter” can make your reader go back to reread the first part of a sentence, and that isn’t a great strategy. The former seems unlikely. If I have a list of more than two items, is there an elegant way to say the first one or the last one? 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