Is It Formally or Formerly? Difference, Examples, and Easy Rule

Formally means in an official, proper, or formal way. Formerly means in the past or previously. The safest way to choose the right word is to focus on meaning first.

The company formally announced the change.
The building was formerly a school.

These words are often confused because they sound alike, look alike, or appear in similar everyday contexts. Still, they are not interchangeable. Use formally when the sentence means in an official, proper, or formal way. Use formerly when the sentence means in the past or previously.

Formally vs. Formerly at a glance

Word	Part of speech	Meaning	Example
formally	adverb	in an official, proper, or formal way	The company formally announced the change.
formerly	adverb	in the past or previously	The building was formerly a school.

Quick rule:

Formally = in an official, proper, or formal way.
Formerly = in the past or previously.
If the sentence feels unclear, replace the word with its definition.

When to use formally

Use formally when the sentence points to in an official, proper, or formal way. This word fits when that exact idea is the point of the sentence.

Examples:

The company formally announced the change.
The sentence uses formally because the meaning is in an official, proper, or formal way.
In a school paper, email, or article, this word keeps the meaning clear.
If that meaning does not fit, test formerly instead.

A useful editing habit is to ask what role the word plays. Is it naming a thing, describing a condition, or showing an action? Once you know the role, the correct word is easier to choose.

When to use formerly

Use formerly when the sentence points to in the past or previously. Even if the word sounds like formally, it gives the sentence a different meaning.

Examples:

The building was formerly a school.
The sentence uses formerly because the meaning is in the past or previously.
Replacing it with formally would confuse readers.
The correct choice depends on context, not on sound alone.

This distinction matters in polished writing because one wrong word can make a simple sentence look careless or misleading.

The easiest memory trick

Formally is about form or official style. Formerly is about former time.

You can also use this question:

> Is the sentence about in an official, proper, or formal way, or is it about in the past or previously?

If the first meaning fits, choose formally. If the second meaning fits, choose formerly.

Common phrases with formally

formally announced
formally dressed
formally invited
formally approved

Examples:

The phrase formally announced uses formally because it connects to in an official, proper, or formal way.
The phrase formally dressed follows the same meaning pattern.
Memorizing common phrases helps you choose faster while writing.

Common phrases with formerly

formerly known as
formerly used for
formerly worked at
formerly lived in

Examples:

The phrase formerly known as uses formerly because it connects to in the past or previously.
The phrase formerly used for is another common example.
If a phrase looks wrong, check the meaning before changing the spelling.

Common mistakes and corrections

Incorrect	Correct	Why
The company formerly announced the change.	The company formally announced the change.	The sentence needs formally because it means in an official, proper, or formal way.
The building was formally a school.	The building was formerly a school.	The sentence needs formerly because it means in the past or previously.

More corrections:

Incorrect: I chose the word only because it sounded familiar.
Correct: I chose the word because its meaning matched the sentence.
Incorrect: I used one word for both meanings.
Correct: I kept formally and formerly separate.

The same context-first habit also helps with Adapt vs. Adopt and Beside vs. Besides. For a wider set of examples in this topic, use the Similar Words archive as the category grows.

More example sentences

Examples with formally:

The company formally announced the change.
The editor chose formally because it matched the intended meaning.
In this example, formally is clear and natural.
The sentence would change meaning with formerly.

Examples with formerly:

The building was formerly a school.
The teacher accepted the sentence because formerly was accurate.
In this context, formerly cannot be replaced by formally.
The word choice tells the reader exactly what you mean.

Why this difference matters

This kind of word choice may seem small, but it affects how trustworthy your writing feels. In a short text message, the reader may still understand the sentence. In a school assignment, business email, resume, cover letter, article, or professional document, the wrong word can distract the reader from your main point.

The best writers do not memorize every confusing pair at once. They build a habit: pause, check the meaning, and choose the word that matches the sentence. That habit works for formally and formerly, and it also works for many other confusing English words.

If you are editing your own writing, read the sentence out loud and then ask what the word is doing. If it points to in an official, proper, or formal way, choose formally. If it points to in the past or previously, choose formerly.

Quick quiz

Choose the correct word.

The company formally announced the change.
The building was formerly a school.
Which word means in an official, proper, or formal way: formally or formerly?
Which word means in the past or previously: formally or formerly?

Answers:

formally
formerly
formally
formerly

FAQ

Is formally the same as formerly?

No. formally means in an official, proper, or formal way, while formerly means in the past or previously. They may sound or look similar, but they do not mean the same thing.

How do I remember formally vs. formerly?

Use the meaning test. Ask what the sentence is actually saying, then choose the word that matches that meaning.

Which word is more common?

It depends on the topic. Do not choose by frequency alone. Choose the word that gives the reader the correct meaning.

Can these words appear in formal writing?

Yes. Both words can appear in formal writing when used correctly. The important part is not mixing them up.

Final tip

Do not choose between formally and formerly by sound alone. If the sentence means in an official, proper, or formal way, use formally. If it means in the past or previously, use formerly.