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Mr. Tom Posted 8 years ago
Vocabulary

Ex vs. Former

Hi

I think both ex and former are equally common in everyday English. Their frequency changes with the word that comes after them. I found these on Google Ngrams. Could I request your take?

https://books.google.com/ngrams/graph?content=ex-wife%2C+former+wife&year_start=1800&year_end=2000&corpus=15&smoothing=3&share=&direct_url=t1%3B%2Cex%20-%20wife%3B%2Cc0%3B.t1%3B%2Cformer%20wife%3B%2Cc0

https://books.google.com/ngrams/graph?content=ex-boss%2Cformer+boss&year_start=1800&year_end=2000&corpus=15&smoothing=3&share=&direct_url=t1%3B%2Cex%20-%20boss%3B%2Cc0%3B.t1%3B%2Cformer%20boss%3B%2Cc0


Thanks,

Tom

PS: I doubt erstwhile exists at all in current English. Right?

  

Top answer

Mr. Tom I think both ex and former are equally common in everyday English. Their frequency changes with the word that comes after them.

— Anonymous

  • Mr.
  • Tom I think both ex and former are equally common in everyday English.
  • Their frequency changes with the word that comes after them.
  • That seems correct.
  • Mr.
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1 Answers
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Mr. TomI think both ex and former are equally common in everyday English. Their frequency changes with the word that comes after them.

That seems correct.

Mr. TomPS: I doubt erstwhile exists at all in current English. Right?

It's a rare word that's only familiar in very formal contexts. It's not needed.

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