What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
former
Example
The former president of the company retired last year. [former: adjective]
Example
I used to live in the former apartment of my friend. [former: adjective]
Example
He worked as a teacher and later as a lawyer, but the former was his true passion. [former: noun]
earlier
Example
I woke up earlier than usual today. [earlier: adverb]
Example
We had met earlier in the day, before the incident occurred. [earlier: adverb]
Example
The earlier version of the software had some bugs that were fixed in the latest update. [earlier: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Earlier is more commonly used than former in everyday language. Earlier is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while former is less common and more specific in its usage.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between former and earlier?
Both former and earlier are neutral in terms of formality and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
