Have you ever stopped while writing an email and wondered: formerly or formally? These two words look almost the same, sound very similar in some accents, and differ by only two letters.
Yet they have completely different meanings.This is why people often search for “formerly or formally” when writing emails, essays, reports, business documents, and social media posts.
A small spelling choice can change the meaning of a sentence.The good news is that the rule is simple. Formerly means “in the past” or “previously.”
Formally means “in an official, proper, or conventional way.” For example, “She was formerly the manager” means she was the manager in the past. “She was formally introduced” means the introduction was official or proper.
These words are not different British and American spellings. Both formerly and formally are standard in American, British, Canadian, and other forms of English. The real issue is meaning.
This guide explains the difference, origin, spelling, common mistakes, examples, and usage trends so you can choose the right word with confidence.
Formerly or Formally Quick Answer
The quick answer is:
- Formerly = previously; in the past
- Formally = officially; properly; according to accepted rules or customs
Use “formerly” for the past
She was formerly a teacher.
This means she was a teacher before, but that is no longer her current role.
The building was formerly a bank.
The building used to be a bank.
Use “formally” for official or proper action
The company formally announced the change.
The company made an official announcement.
He dressed formally for the ceremony.
He wore suitable formal clothing.
Easy memory trick
Think about the root word:
former → formerly → past
formal → formally → official or proper
If you can replace the word with “previously,” choose formerly.
If you can replace it with “officially” or “in a formal way,” choose formally.
These definitions agree with major English usage references, which distinguish formerly as a past-time adverb and formally as an adverb of manner, procedure, or formality.
The Origin of Formerly or Formally
Although the words look closely related, their roots are different.
Where “formerly” comes from
Formerly comes from former, which means earlier or previous. The word “former” has Old English roots connected with the idea of being first or earlier in time. The adverb formerly developed from this word with the suffix -ly.
So the basic idea is:
former → earlier or previous → formerly → in the past
For example:
The town was formerly known by another name.
The word tells us about an earlier state.
Where “formally” comes from
Formally comes from formal, plus the suffix -ly. “Formal” ultimately comes from Latin forma, meaning form, shape, or appearance.
Over time, it developed meanings connected with established form, rules, convention, and official procedure.
So:
formal → proper, official, or according to rules → formally
For example:
The board formally approved the proposal.
The approval followed an official process.
Why do people confuse them?
The words begin with form- and end with -ly. The middle sounds are also close, especially in accents where the two words can become near-homophones.
This makes them easy to mix up in speech and writing.
The difference is important:
| Word | Root | Main idea |
| Formerly | former | Past or previous |
| Formally | formal | Official, proper, or according to rules |
British English vs American English Spelling
Unlike words such as colour/color, centre/center, and organise/organize, formerly and formally do not have separate British and American spellings.
Both forms are standard in both varieties of English.
| Word | British English | American English | Meaning |
| Formerly | formerly | formerly | Previously |
| Formally | formally | formally | Officially or properly |
So the choice is not about your country.
It is about what you mean.
Examples in both varieties
British English:
The building was formerly a school.
American English:
The building was formerly a school.
British English:
The agreement was formally approved.
American English:
The agreement was formally approved.
The spelling remains the same.
Which Spelling Should You Use?
Choose the word based on meaning, not location.
For US English
Use formerly when you mean “previously.”
He was formerly the company director.
Use formally when you mean “officially” or “in a proper manner.”
The company formally announced his replacement.
For UK and Commonwealth English
The same rule applies.
She was formerly a university professor.
She was formally appointed to the position.
For global English
If your readers come from different countries, the same distinction works everywhere.
A simple test can help:
Does the sentence talk about time?
Use formerly.
Does it talk about manner, rules, ceremony, or official action?
Use formally.
For professional writing, this distinction matters because both words are real English words. A spell-checker may not flag the wrong one because the problem is often word choice, not spelling.
Common Mistakes with Formerly or Formally
Because the words are so similar, several mistakes appear often.
Mistake 1: “Formally known as”
When you mean a previous name, use formerly known as.
❌ The company was formally known as Green Star.
✅ The company was formerly known as Green Star.
“Formerly” tells the reader that the company had that name in the past.
Mistake 2: “Formerly signed”
When describing an official signing, use formally.
❌ The contract was formerly signed yesterday.
✅ The contract was formally signed yesterday.
The action was completed through an official process.
Mistake 3: “He formally worked there”
If you mean he worked there in the past, use formerly.
❌ He formally worked for the company.
✅ He formerly worked for the company.
Mistake 4: “Dress formerly”
If you mean proper or formal clothing, use formally.
❌ Please dress formerly for the event.
✅ Please dress formally for the event.
Mistake 5: Assuming one is the British spelling
This is not correct.
❌ British English uses “formerly” and American English uses “formally.”
✅ Both varieties use both words. The meaning determines the choice.
Usage guides consistently recommend the same basic distinction: formerly = previously, while formally = in a formal or official manner.
Formerly or Formally in Everyday Examples
Seeing the words in real situations makes the difference easier to remember.
In emails
Formerly:
I formerly worked with the sales department.
Formally:
We would like to formally invite you to the meeting.
In business writing
Formerly:
The company was formerly known as Bright Solutions.
Formally:
The board formally approved the merger.
In news writing
Formerly:
The building, formerly a hotel, is now a museum.
Formally:
The minister formally announced the new policy.
On social media
Formerly:
This café was formerly a bookstore.
Formally:
We are formally launching our new website today.
In academic writing
Formerly:
The species was formerly classified as a separate group.
Formally:
The theory was formally presented in the published paper.
In legal or official writing
Formerly:
The organization was formerly registered under another name.
Formally:
The agreement was formally accepted by both parties.
The pattern is clear: formerly describes a previous state, name, role, or situation. Formally describes the way an action happens or its official status.
Formerly or Formally Google Trends & Usage Data
People search for formerly or formally because the words are easy to confuse. They are especially relevant in grammar checks, professional writing, education, and English-learning searches.
Google Trends is useful for studying search interest, but it should be understood correctly. Google Trends reports relative search interest, usually on a normalized scale, rather than giving a simple count of every search made.
Search interest can also vary by country, time period, and query wording.
Current web discussions and language-learning pages show continued interest in the distinction, with common search intent focused on meanings, correct usage, and the phrase “formerly known as.”
Usage also differs by context:
| Context | More likely use | Example |
| History | Formerly | The city was formerly part of another state. |
| Biography | Formerly | She was formerly a professor. |
| Name changes | Formerly | The company was formerly known as ABC Ltd. |
| Business announcements | Formally | The company formally announced the deal. |
| Legal writing | Formally | The contract was formally approved. |
| Etiquette | Formally | Guests were dressed formally. |
| Academic writing | Both | The system was formerly used; the theory was formally tested. |
A useful published usage reference also records that confusion between the two words is a long-standing error, not a new internet problem.
Garner’s Modern English Usage specifically discusses formerly/formally confusion and gives examples of one being substituted for the other.
Formerly vs. Formally: Comparison Table
| Feature | Formerly | Formally |
| Meaning | Previously; in the past | Officially; properly |
| Root word | Former | Formal |
| Main idea | Time | Manner or procedure |
| Used for | Past names, roles, states | Official actions, rules, manners |
| Common phrase | Formerly known as | Formally announced |
| Example | She was formerly a nurse. | She was formally appointed. |
| British spelling | Formerly | Formally |
| American spelling | Formerly | Formally |
| Synonyms | Previously, once | Officially, properly |
| Opposite idea | Currently/now | Informally |
FAQs About Formerly or Formally
Is “formerly or formally” the correct spelling?
Both formerly and formally are correctly spelled words. The correct choice depends on meaning.
Formerly means previously.
Formally means officially or in a formal manner.
Is it “formerly known as” or “formally known as”?
The usual phrase is formerly known as when you mean “previously called.”
The company was formerly known as Blue Star.
Does formerly mean officially?
No. Formerly means “previously” or “in the past.”
Formally can mean “officially” or “according to formal rules.”
Does formally mean in the past?
No. Formally does not normally indicate past time.
The manager formally approved the request.
The word tells us how the approval happened.
Are formerly and formally British and American spelling differences?
No. Both words are spelled the same in British and American English.
The difference is semantic, not regional.
What is an easy way to remember the difference?
Remember the root words:
Formerly → former → past
Formally → formal → official
If “previously” works, choose formerly.
If “officially” or “properly” works, choose formally.
Why do formerly and formally sound so similar?
They have similar sounds and nearly identical spellings. In some English accents, they can sound especially close. This makes them common word-choice errors.
Conclusion
The difference between formerly or formally is simple once you focus on meaning. Formerly means “previously,” “once,” or “in the past.” Use it when you describe an old name, role, condition, or situation.
Formally means “officially,” “properly,” or “according to accepted rules or customs.” Use it when you describe an official action, formal behavior, ceremony, procedure, or announcement.
The two words are not British and American spelling variants. Both formerly and formally are used in British English, American English, and other major forms of English.
The easiest memory trick is to remove -ly. If you see former, think past. If you see formal, think official or proper.
So write “formerly known as” when talking about an old name, but write “formally announced” when talking about an official announcement.
Once you learn this small difference, you can avoid one of the most common and confusing word-choice errors in English writing.
