Formerly or Formally: What’s the Difference?
Have you ever stopped while writing and wondered, “Is it formerly or formally?” You are not alone.
These two words look and sound similar, but they have very different meanings. Using the wrong one can change the meaning of a sentence and make your writing unclear.
People often search for “formerly or formally” because both words relate to ideas that can appear in professional, academic, and everyday writing.
Formerly talks about something that was true in the past. Formally describes something done in an official, proper, or structured way.
For example, “She was formerly the manager” means she used to be the manager. But “She was formally introduced as the new manager” means she was introduced in an official way.
This guide explains the difference between formerly and formally in simple terms. You will learn their meanings, origins, correct usage, common mistakes, spelling differences, and practical examples.
By the end, you will know which word to use and why.
Formerly or Formally Quick Answer
Formerly means in the past or previously.
The building was formerly a school.
This means the building used to be a school.
Formally means in an official, proper, or formal way.
The company formally announced the new policy.
This means the company made an official announcement.
Quick comparison
| Word | Meaning | Example |
| Formerly | Previously; in the past | He was formerly the director. |
| Formally | In an official or proper way | He was formally appointed director. |
A simple trick is to remember:
Formerly = before
Formally = official or proper
The Origin of Formerly or Formally
The words formerly and formally come from different word families.
Formerly comes from former, which means something that existed or was true before. “Former” comes from Old English and Germanic roots connected with ideas of being first, earlier, or previous.
The word formally comes from formal, which comes from the Latin word forma, meaning “form” or “shape.” English later used formal to describe things that follow an accepted form, rule, or standard.
The spelling difference comes from their base words:
- former + -ly = formerly
- formal + -ly = formally
The words look almost identical because both end in -ly. Their base words, however, have different meanings.
This is why spelling alone is not enough. You should first ask what you mean.
If you mean “in the past,” use formerly.
If you mean “in an official or proper way,” use formally.
British English vs American English Spelling
There is no major British-American spelling difference between formerly and formally.
Both British English and American English normally spell these words the same way:
| Meaning | British English | American English |
| Previously | formerly | formerly |
| Officially/properly | formally | formally |
The larger spelling differences between British and American English usually involve other words, such as:
| British English | American English |
| colour | color |
| centre | center |
| organise | organize |
| travelling | traveling |
But formerly and formally do not normally change spelling between the two varieties.
Example
British English:
The hotel was formerly a railway station.
American English:
The hotel was formerly a railway station.
Both use formerly.
Likewise:
The agreement was formally signed.
The spelling is the same in both forms of English.
Which Spelling Should You Use?
Choose the word based on meaning, not on whether you are writing British or American English.
For US English
Use formerly when you mean “previously.”
She was formerly the head of sales.
Use formally when you mean “officially” or “in a formal way.”
The company formally accepted the offer.
For UK and Commonwealth English
The same rule applies.
The town was formerly known as Eastville.
The new law was formally approved.
For global English
If you write for an international audience, focus on clarity.
Ask yourself:
Am I talking about the past?
Use formerly.
Am I talking about an official or formal action?
Use formally.
This rule works across major English varieties.
Common Mistakes with Formerly or Formally
Mistake 1: Using “formally” for the past
Incorrect:
He was formally the company president.
If you mean that he used to be president, the better word is formerly.
Correct:
He was formerly the company president.
Mistake 2: Using “formerly” for an official action
Incorrect:
The board formerly approved the plan.
If you mean the board gave official approval, use formally.
Correct:
The board formally approved the plan.
Mistake 3: Confusing “former” and “formal”
These words also have different meanings.
- Former = previous
- Formal = official, proper, or following accepted rules
Examples:
My former employer lives in London.
We had a formal meeting.
Mistake 4: Relying only on pronunciation
Because formerly and formally sound similar, it is easy to confuse them when speaking. Think about the meaning before choosing the spelling.
Mistake 5: Assuming British and American English use different forms
They generally do not. Both varieties use formerly and formally with the same meanings.
Formerly or Formally in Everyday Examples
In emails
Formerly:
The office was formerly located downtown.
Formally:
We would like to formally invite you to the meeting.
In news writing
The building was formerly owned by the city.
The minister formally announced the decision on Tuesday.
News writing often uses both words because it discusses past facts and official actions.
On social media
This café was formerly a bookstore.
The team formally announced its new coach today.
In formal writing
The organization was formerly known as the National Research Council.
The committee formally adopted the proposal.
In everyday conversation
She formerly worked here.
He was formally introduced to the guests.
A useful test is to replace the word:
- Formerly → previously
- Formally → officially
If “previously” fits, choose formerly. If “officially” fits, choose formally.
Formerly or Formally Google Trends & Usage Data
Search interest for “formerly or formally” reflects a common spelling and usage question. People often search for the two words together because they look and sound similar.
Search behavior can vary by country, language background, education level, and writing context. Queries are especially useful when people are writing:
- business emails
- academic papers
- resumes
- official documents
- news articles
- professional correspondence
The broader words formerly and formally are both common in English, but they appear in different contexts.
Formerly is strongly linked to descriptions of previous names, jobs, locations, and identities:
The company was formerly called GreenTech.
Formally is common in contexts involving announcements, approval, introductions, requests, and official procedures:
The proposal was formally approved.
Google Trends can show relative search interest over time and by country, but it should not be treated as a measure of total word usage. Search volume also changes with current events, education topics, and regional search habits.
For professional writing, the meaning-based rule remains more useful than search popularity.
Formerly vs Formally: Comparison Table
| Feature | Formerly | Formally |
| Basic meaning | Previously | Officially or properly |
| Talks about | The past | Official or formal action |
| Base word | former | formal |
| Common synonym | previously | officially |
| Example | She was formerly CEO. | She was formally appointed CEO. |
| British spelling | formerly | formally |
| American spelling | formerly | formally |
| Common mistake | Using it for “officially” | Using it for “previously” |
FAQs About Formerly or Formally
Is it “formerly” or “formally”?
Both words are correct, but they have different meanings. Use formerly for something that was true in the past. Use formally for something official, proper, or done according to accepted rules.
Does formerly mean previously?
Yes. Formerly means previously or in the past.
The restaurant was formerly a bank.
Does formally mean officially?
Often, yes. Formally can mean officially, especially when describing an announcement, decision, appointment, or agreement.
The company formally announced the change.
Is “formerly known as” correct?
Yes. Formerly known as is a common phrase used to say that a person, company, place, or organization had a different name in the past.
Twitter was formerly known as Twitter?
More accurately, the platform was formerly known as Twitter before its rebranding to X.
Is formally a British spelling?
No. Formally is used in both British and American English.
Is formerly a British spelling?
No. Formerly is also used in both British and American English.
How can I remember the difference?
Use this simple rule:
Formerly = before
Formally = official
If you can replace the word with previously, choose formerly. If you can replace it with officially, choose formally.
Conclusion
The difference between formerly and formally is simple once you focus on meaning. Formerly means previously or in the past. Formally means officially, properly, or in a formal way.
For example, “She was formerly the manager” means she used to be the manager. “She was formally appointed manager” means the appointment was made officially.
The two words have different origins and different base words: former gives us formerly, while formal gives us formally.
Unlike many other English words, they do not normally change spelling between British and American English.
When in doubt, use the replacement test. If previously makes sense, choose formerly. If officially makes sense, choose formally.
This small distinction can make a big difference in emails, reports, news articles, academic work, and professional communication. Learn the meaning, and the spelling becomes easy.
