Definitions
- Referring to a previous position or status held by someone. - Describing something that existed or was in effect before the present time. - Talking about the first of two things mentioned.
- Referring to a time before the present moment. - Describing something that happened or existed at a previous time. - Talking about the first of two events mentioned.
List of Similarities
- 1Both words refer to a time or position that is no longer current.
- 2Both can be used to compare two things or events.
- 3Both are used to indicate a past occurrence.
What is the difference?
- 1Usage: Former is typically used to describe a person's previous position or status, while earlier is used to describe a time or event that occurred before the present moment.
- 2Position vs. Time: Former refers to a previous position or status, while earlier refers to a previous time or event.
- 3Grammatical Role: Former is an adjective or noun, while earlier can function as an adverb or adjective.
- 4Specificity: Former is more specific and refers to a particular person or thing, while earlier can refer to any time or event that occurred before the present moment.
- 5Comparative Forms: Former has no comparative form, while earlier has a comparative form 'earlier'.
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Remember this!
Former and earlier are synonyms that both refer to a time or position that is no longer current. However, former is typically used to describe a person's previous position or status, while earlier is used to describe a time or event that occurred before the present moment.
