Former vs Latter
Difference, Examples & Quiz
What's the difference? Which one is correct?
Definition: Former refers to the first of two things mentioned.
Usage: Former is used to compare or contrast two things, indicating the first one.
- 1. In the former case, the company was successful.
- 2. The former president was known for his strong leadership.
- 3. She worked as a teacher and later as a lawyer. In the former profession, she found her true passion.
Definition: Latter refers to the second of two things mentioned.
Usage: Latter is used to compare or contrast two things, indicating the second one.
- 1. In the latter case, the company faced financial difficulties.
- 2. The former president was known for his strong leadership, while the latter focused more on diplomacy.
- 3. She worked as a teacher and later as a lawyer. In the latter profession, she achieved great success.
Former and latter are used to refer to the first and second of two things or people mentioned. The former is used to refer to the first of the two things or people mentioned, while the latter is used to refer to the second of the two things or people mentioned.
Former vs Latter: 5 Quizzes
1. What is the former?
2. What is the latter?
3. Which word means 'earlier'?
4. Which word means 'later'?
5. Which word refers to the first mentioned item?
FAQs
What is the former?
The former refers to the first of two things mentioned.
What is the latter?
The latter refers to the second of two things mentioned.
Can you provide an example of the former?
Sure! An example of the former is 'I have two cats, and the former is black.'
Can you provide an example of the latter?
Certainly! An example of the latter is 'I have two cats, and the latter is white.'
When should I use the former and the latter?
You can use the former and the latter when you want to refer to two previously mentioned items in a clear and concise way.