What’s the Difference Between Former and Latter?
The word former is used to refer to the first item in a group of two, while latter refers to the second (or last) item. When used in this sense, both words must be preceded by “the.”
- We picked up the cake and balloons. Annette took the former to my aunt’s house, while George took the latter to the venue to help set up.
Former vs Latter
There’s former.
There’s latter.
And then there’s the former and the latter.
This blog is dedicated to helping you understand how to use the phrases the former and the latter correctly, while also briefly reviewing what former and latter mean on their own.
Confused? Don’t worry! Keep reading, and you’ll see how easy it is to understand.
“The Former” and “The Latter”
Let’s begin by taking a look at the following sentence:
Former is used to refer to the first thing in a group or list of two, while latter refers to the second (or last) thing. In the example above, the former refers to big cities, and the latter refers to small towns.
Here’s a little trick to help you remember what these words mean:
- Former = First
- Latter = Last
There are a few things to keep in mind when using these phrases.
Firstly, be aware that they are only used when referring to two things. Most style guides advise against using them when mentioning more than two things.
If you’re referencing more than two items, consider using other words like first, last, third, etc.
Additionally, these phrases can be used together within the same sentence or independently.
Lastly, it is sometimes recommended to avoid using these phrases in your writing. Why? Because doing so weakens the flow of your writing by forcing your audience to reread the sentence to figure out what the former and the latter refer to. These phrases tend not to be used in verbal communication because there’s nothing for the listener to go back and refer to.
What Does Former Mean?
The word former has a few other uses. As an adjective, former means “relating to or occurring in the past.”
It’s also used to describe someone that “used to have a certain position or status in the past.”
The adverb is formerly (be careful not to confuse it with formally).
What Does Latter Mean?
Latter also has a few meanings. As we already mentioned, it can mean “the second (or last) of two things referred to.” But it can also mean “relating to the end of a period.”
Conversely (and perhaps confusingly), latter also means “recent.” However, this usage is not as common.
The Former and the Latter: Examples
Here are a few more examples that contain the phrases the former and the latter.
The graphic above illustrates what “the former” and “the latter” reference in a sentence.
Using Former and Latter Correctly
When using the phrases the former and the latter, just remember that:
- The former refers to the first in a group of two.
- The latter refers to the last in a group of two.
- Avoid using the former and the latter in your writing, as it can distract your readers.
- Instead of using the former and the latter when referring to items in a group larger than two, try using words like first, second, last, etc.
There are regular spelling and grammar checkers, and then there is LanguageTool. The latter does much more than just check for errors. This multilingual writing assistant strengthens your writing by suggesting stylistic improvements and rephrasing your sentences to suit the desired tone.
