Formerly vs Formally: What’s the Difference?

Formerly vs Formally: What’s the Difference? explains how one word points to the past while the other describes an official way, tone, or manner.

The word formerly is an adjective or adverb-related term used when referring to something that was true in the past but is no longer true now. It connects with words such as before, previously, earlier, former, and past. For example, someone who was once a CEO but no longer holds that position was formerly the CEO.

The phrase The Artist Formerly Known as Prince is a well-known example because it refers to a name used previously. The term can also appear in descriptions of organizations that have changed their name, such as an institution that was formerly known as another organization.

Quick Answer: Formerly vs Formally

The easiest way to remember formerly vs formally is this:

Word	Meaning	Think of	Example
Formerly	Previously; in the past	Time	The building was formerly a school.
Formally	In a formal or official manner	Manner or procedure	The board formally approved the plan.

Formerly = previously.
Formally = officially or in a formal manner.

Try replacing the word with previously. If the sentence still makes sense, formerly is probably correct. If officially, properly, or in a formal manner fits better, choose formally.

For example:

• The restaurant was formerly a bank. → The restaurant was previously a bank.
• The restaurant was formally opened on Friday. → The restaurant was officially opened on Friday.

The meanings are clearly different.

What Does “Formerly” Mean?

Formerly is an adverb that means at an earlier time or previously. It tells the reader that a person, place, organization, name, role, condition, or situation was different at some point in the past.

The important idea is to change over time.

When you use formerly, you normally describe something that was true before but isn’t true in the same way now.

Consider this sentence:

The building was formerly a hospital.

The word formally tells you that the building once served as a hospital. Its present use may be completely different.

You could replace formerly with previously:

The building was previously a hospital.

The meaning remains intact.

Common Uses of “Formerly”

You can use formerly when talking about:

• A previous name
• A previous job
• A previous position
• A previous owner
• A previous use
• A previous identity
• A past condition
• A past role or status

Examples:

• Maria was formerly the company’s director.
• The theater was formerly a courthouse.
• The organization was formerly called the Regional Arts Council.
• He formerly worked as a newspaper editor.
• The property was formerly used as a warehouse.

In each case, the word points backward.

Merriam-Webster gives the core meaning as “at an earlier time” or “previously” and lists examples involving previous positions and former names.

What Does “Formally” Mean?

Formally is an adverb that describes something done in a formal manner. Depending on context, it can mean according to an established form, officially, explicitly, ceremonially, or according to a prescribed procedure.

Here, the focus isn’t on the past.

Instead, formally describes how something happens.

For example:

The committee formally approved the proposal.

The word formally tells you that the approval happened through an official or recognized process.

Another example makes the distinction even clearer:

The university formally recognized her contribution.

This doesn’t mean the recognition happened in the past. It describes the official nature or manner of the recognition.

Common Uses of “Formally”

You may see formally with verbs such as:

• formally announce
• formally approve
• formally accept
• formally invite
• formally recognize
• formally introduce
• formally request
• formally sign
• formally appoint
• formally open

Examples:

• The company formally announced the merger.
• The committee formally accepted the recommendation.
• She was formally invited to the ceremony.
• The board formally approved the budget.
• The organization formally recognized his achievement.

Merriam-Webster also gives formal meanings connected with established form, explicit action, prescribed form, and ceremonial behavior.

Formerly vs Formally: The Root Word Makes the Difference

One of the best ways to remember these words is to look inside them.

Former + -ly = Formerly

The base word former refers to something previous or earlier. Merriam-Webster defines former in part as something relating to the past or something that existed previously.

So:

former → formerly → past or previous

For example:

She was formerly a professor.

The base word gives you a useful clue. She was a former professor, meaning she held that position previously.

Formal + -ly = Formally

The base word formal relates to established forms, customs, rules, official actions, or conventional standards.

So:

formal → formally → formal or official manner

For example:

The university formally appointed her.

The appointment happened through an official or recognized process.

A Simple Memory Trick

Think of the two words this way:

Formerly = former time
Formally = formal manner

That small mental shortcut can prevent a surprisingly common spelling mistake.

“Formerly Known As” vs “Formally Known As”

This is one of the most useful distinctions to understand.

The standard expression for a previous name is:

formerly known as

For example:

The company was formerly known as Northstar Technologies.

This means the company had a different name in the past.

You can also say:

• formerly called
• formerly named
• formerly used as
• formerly operated as
• formerly served as

For instance:

The building was formerly used as a railway office.

The phrase formally known as can sometimes occur in a sentence where formally genuinely means “in a formal or official way,” but it does not normally mean “previously known as.”

Compare these:

The company was formerly known as Westbridge Media.

The company had that previous name.

The company was formally recognized as an industry leader.

The company received official recognition.

The first sentence concerns past identity. The second concerns official action.

Why This Mistake Happens

The phrase formally known as may seem logical because people associate “formal” with official names. However, when you’re introducing a previous name, formerly expresses the time relationship you actually mean.

A useful test is simple:

Can you replace the word with “previously”?

If yes, use formerly.

Formerly vs Formally in Example Sentences

Examples make this distinction much easier to see.

Examples With “Formerly”

• The hotel was formerly a private residence.
• She was formerly the company’s chief editor.
• The street was formerly called Market Road.
• He formerly worked for a national newspaper.
• The organization was formerly known as the Community Development Group.
• The warehouse was formerly a manufacturing facility.

Each sentence refers to an earlier state, identity, position, or use.

Examples With “Formally”

• The board formally approved the proposal.
• The university formally announced the new policy.
• She was formally invited to the ceremony.
• The two organizations formally signed the agreement.
• The committee formally recognized his contribution.
• The new director was formally introduced at the meeting.

These sentences describe an official, structured, proper, or recognized action.

Examples Using Both Words

Sometimes both words can appear naturally in one sentence.

The building was formerly a bank, and the museum formally opened it to visitors last month.

Here, it formally describes the building’s past use. Formally describes the official opening.

Another example:

She was formerly the department head before the university formally appointed a replacement.

The first word refers to a previous position. The second describes an official appointment.

That’s the entire distinction in action.

Formerly vs Formally Pronunciation

The words can sound close enough to cause confusion, especially in fast conversation.

Merriam-Webster gives formerly as for-mer-ly, while dictionary references distinguish its pronunciation from formally, which is pronounced more like for-muh-ly.

A simplified comparison looks like this:

• Formerly: FOR-mer-lee
• Formally: FOR-muh-lee

The middle syllable is a useful clue.

However, pronunciation shouldn’t carry the entire burden. Context matters more when you’re writing.

If you hear:

“The company was formerly called…”

you immediately understand that the speaker means previously called.

If you hear:

“The company formally announced…”

you understand that the announcement had an official or formal character.

Formerly vs Formally as Adverbs

Both formally and formally are adverbs. However, they modify ideas in different ways.

Formerly adds information about time.

He formerly worked here.

The adverb tells you that his work here belonged to an earlier period.

Formally adds information about manner or procedure.

He formally accepted the offer.

The adverb tells you how the acceptance occurred.

This distinction is useful because it explains why you can’t casually swap the words.

Compare the Structure

Sentence	What the adverb tells you
She formerly lived in Boston.	She lived there in the past.
She formally accepted the position.	She accepted it through a formal process.
He formerly served as director.	He held the role previously.
He was formally appointed director.	He received the position officially.

One describes when. The other describes how.

Common Mistakes With Formerly and Formally

These mistakes usually happen because writers focus on spelling instead of meaning.

Mistake: “Formally Known As” When You Mean a Previous Name

❌ The organization was formally known as the Youth Development Council.

If your meaning is that this was its old name, use:

✅ The organization was formerly known as the Youth Development Council.

Mistake: Using “Formerly” for an Official Action

❌ The committee formerly approved the proposal.

This doesn’t naturally communicate official approval.

Better:

✅ The committee formally approved the proposal.

The committee didn’t approve the proposal “in the past.” It approved it through an official action.

Mistake: Using “Formally” for a Previous Position

❌ She was formally the company’s chief accountant.

If you mean she once held that position, write:

✅ She was formerly the company’s chief accountant.

Mistake: Choosing by Sound Alone

Because the words resemble each other, spelling from memory can be risky.

Instead, pause and ask:

Am I talking about the past or the manner of an action?

That question usually solves the problem immediately.

Formerly vs Formally: How to Choose the Right Word

A quick decision process can make the choice almost automatic.

Use “Formerly” for the Past

Choose formerly when the sentence means:

• previously
• earlier
• once
• in the past
• at an earlier time

Example:

The restaurant was formerly a bookstore.

Replace it:

The restaurant was previously a bookstore.

The meaning stays intact.

Use “Formally” for Manner or Official Procedure

Choose formally when the sentence means:

• officially
• in a formal manner
• according to established procedure
• ceremoniously
• explicitly

Example:

The company formally accepted the offer.

Replace it:

The company officially accepted the offer.

Again, the meaning remains intact.

Use the Two-Question Test

When you’re stuck, ask:

Question one: Does the word mean previously?

→ Used formerly.

Question two: Does it mean officially or in a formal manner?

→ Use formally.

This works in most ordinary writing situations.

Read More: Differential vs Deferential – What’s the Difference?

Formerly vs Formally in Professional and Academic Writing

The distinction becomes especially important in professional writing because these words often appear beside positions, names, announcements, appointments, and organizational changes.

Consider a resume:

Formerly: Marketing Director, Westbridge Media

This tells the reader that the person previously held the role.

Now consider an announcement:

The board formally appointed Elena Ruiz as marketing director.

This tells readers that the board made an official appointment.

Academic writing uses the distinction in much the same way:

The institution was formerly affiliated with the regional university.

versus:

The institution was formally recognized by the regional university.

The first sentence describes a past relationship. The second describes an official recognition.

Getting this small distinction right makes professional writing sharper and less ambiguous.

Formerly vs Formally: Synonyms and Related Words

Understanding nearby words can strengthen your vocabulary.

Synonyms for “Formerly”

Depending on context, formerly can mean:

• previously
• earlier
• once
• in the past
• at one time
• erstwhile
• onetime

Merriam-Webster’s thesaurus specifically lists once, earlier, previously, erstwhile, and onetime among related terms.

For example:

She was formerly a teacher.

You could write:

She was previously a teacher.

or:

She was once a teacher.

The exact choice depends on tone and context.

Synonyms for “Formally”

Depending on the sentence, formally can relate to:

• officially
• properly
• ceremonially
• according to procedure
• in a formal manner
• explicitly
• systematically

Merriam-Webster’s definition includes senses connected with established form, explicit action, prescribed form, and ceremonial behavior.

For example:

The agreement was formally approved.

A natural alternative is:

The agreement was officially approved.

However, don’t assume every synonym can be replaced formally in every sentence. Context still controls the best word.

A Real-World Case Study: Changing a Company Name

Imagine a business called Green Valley Foods that changes its name to Summit Harvest Foods.

You could write:

Summit Harvest Foods was formerly known as Green Valley Foods.

That’s correct because the sentence describes the company’s previous identity.

Now imagine the company’s board holds a meeting to approve a major merger.

You could write:

The board formally approved the merger.

That’s correct because the sentence describes an official decision.

Now combine them:

Summit Harvest Foods, formerly known as Green Valley Foods, formally approved the merger through its board.

The two adverbs perform different jobs:

• Formerly = tells us about the company’s past name.
• Formally = tells us about the official approval.

This is a useful model because real professional writing often needs both concepts.

Formerly vs Formally: Side-by-Side Comparison

Feature	Formerly	Formally
Part of speech	Adverb	Adverb
Core meaning	Previously	In a formal or official manner
Main focus	Time	Manner or procedure
Base word	Former	Formal
Common synonym	Previously	Officially
Common phrase	Formerly known as	Formally approved
Refers to the past?	Usually	Not necessarily
Describe official action?	No	Often
Example	She was formerly a manager.	She was formally appointed manager.

The contrast becomes almost impossible to miss when the words appear in parallel:

Formerly = what was true before.
Formally = how something is officially or properly done.

Formerly or Formally? Practice Quiz

Choose the correct word in each sentence.

1. The building was ___ a school.
2. The committee ___ approved the proposal.
3. She was ___ employed by the agency.
4. The university ___ recognized his achievement.
5. The restaurant was ___ a post office.
6. The director ___ announced the policy.
7. The organization was ___ known as the Regional Arts Council.
8. He was ___ the company’s chief engineer.
9. The couple was ___ invited to the ceremony.
10. The factory was ___ used as a storage facility.

Answers

1. formerly
2. formally
3. formerly
4. formally
5. formerly
6. formally
7. formerly
8. formerly
9. formally
10. formerly

Notice the pattern: sentences describing past status or use take formerly. Sentences describing official or formal action taken formally.

FAQs

1. What is the difference between formerly and formally?

Formerly refers to something that was true or existed in the past, while formally describes an official, proper, or conventional manner of doing something.

2. When should I use it formally?

Use formerly when talking about a previous name, position, condition, or status. For example, “She was formerly the CEO of the company.”

3. When should I use it formally?

Use formally when describing something done in an official, proper, or structured way. For example, “The organization was formally established in 2020.”

4. Are formerly and formally interchangeable?

No. Although they look and sound similar, they have different meanings and cannot normally be substituted for each other.

5. Does formerly mean previously?

Yes. Formerly can mean previously, before, or in the past. It indicates that something was true at an earlier time.

6. Does formally mean officially?

Yes, in many contexts. Formally can mean officially, especially when something follows an established procedure, rule, or convention.

7. What is an example of formerly?

An example is: “The building was formerly a school.” This means it used to be a school but has a different purpose now.

8. What is an example of formally?

An example is: “The committee formally accepted the proposal.” Here, formally shows that the acceptance happened through an official process.

9. Why are formerly and formally commonly confused?

They are commonly confused because they have similar spelling, pronunciation, and structure. The main difference is the vowel and the meaning: formerly relates to the past, while formally relates to manner or official procedure.

10. What is an easy way to remember formerly vs formally?

Remember formerly = former/past and formally = formal/official. If you are talking about something that happened before, choose formally. If you are talking about an official or proper manner, choose formally.

Conclusion

Understanding formally vs formally becomes easier when you connect each word with its core meaning. Formerly related to a previous time, former position, previous name, or past condition, while formally relates to an official manner, proper behavior, formal language, or established procedure. Although the words look and sound almost alike, their meanings point in different directions.

When choosing between them, look at the context and ask whether you are talking about when something was true or how something was done. Use formerly for the past and formally for an official or proper manner. This simple distinction can improve word choice, English grammar, writing, clarity, and professional communication.