Formerly or Formally: What Is the Difference?

Have you ever stopped while writing because you were unsure whether to use “formerly” or “formally”? You are not alone. 

These two words look and sound similar, but they have very different meanings. Using the wrong word can change the meaning of a sentence.

Formerly refers to something that was true or existed in the past. For example, “The building was formerly a school” means it used to be a school.

Formally, on the other hand, relates to official rules, proper behavior, or a formal manner. 

For example, “She was formally introduced to the team” means the introduction was official or followed a proper process.

This confusion is common because both words end in -ly and are built from words that can seem related. However, their meanings are easy to separate once you understand their roots. 

In this guide, we will explain the difference between formerly or formally, their origins, spelling, common mistakes, and correct usage in everyday writing.

Formerly or Formally Quick Answer

The simple answer is:

• Formerly = in the past; previously
• Formally = officially, properly, or in a formal way

Examples of “Formerly”

She was formerly the manager of the company.

This means she was the manager in the past.

The restaurant was formerly a bank.

This means the building used to be a bank.

Examples of “Formally”

The new director was formally introduced to the staff.

This means the introduction was official or proper.

He was formally dressed for the ceremony.

This means he wore suitable formal clothing.

Easy way to remember

Think of former when you see formerly:

Formerly = former = previous or past

Think of formal when you see formally:

Formally = formal = official or proper

The Origin of Formerly or Formally

The difference between formerly and formally comes from their base words: former and formal.

Formerly comes from former, which means something that existed or happened before. The word former has roots in Old English and developed through Middle English. 

Over time, it came to describe something that was true in the past but is no longer true.

For example:

He is a former employee.

When -ly is added, formerly means “in the past” or “previously.”

Formally comes from formal, which is related to form and has roots in Latin forma, meaning “form” or “shape.” The word developed to describe something based on accepted rules, established forms, or proper procedure.

When -ly is added, formally means “in a formal manner” or “officially.”

The spelling difference is therefore not random. The words come from different base words and have different meanings.

British English vs American English Spelling

Unlike words such as colour/color or centre/center, formerly and formally do not have different standard spellings in British and American English.

Both forms are spelled the same in:

• British English
• American English
• Canadian English
• Australian English
• Other major varieties of English

The important difference is meaning, not regional spelling.

Word	British English	American English	Meaning
Formerly	formerly	formerly	Previously; in the past
Formally	formally	formally	Officially or in a formal way

Examples

British English:

The company was formerly known as Green Ltd.

American English:

The company was formerly known as Green Ltd.

The spelling remains unchanged.

British English:

The guests were formally invited to the event.

American English:

The guests were formally invited to the event.

Again, there is no spelling difference.

Which Spelling Should You Use?

You should choose the word based on meaning, not on whether you are writing for a British or American audience.

Use “formerly” when you mean “previously”

Use formerly when something was true in the past.

The building was formerly a hospital.

She was formerly the head of the department.

The company was formerly called Bright Solutions.

Use “formally” when you mean “officially”

Use formally when something happens through an official or proper process.

The employee was formally appointed as director.

They were formally invited to the ceremony.

Use “formally” for formal behavior or style

It can also describe the way someone behaves, speaks, dresses, or writes.

He was dressed formally for the meeting.

Please address the letter formally.

Advice for different audiences

Audience	Correct Word	Advice
US readers	Formerly/Formally	Choose according to meaning
UK readers	Formerly/Formally	Choose according to meaning
Commonwealth readers	Formerly/Formally	Both spellings are standard
Global readers	Formerly/Formally	Focus on the meaning and context

There is no need to change formerly to formally, or vice versa, based on regional English.

Common Mistakes with Formerly or Formally

Because these words look similar, writers often confuse them.

Mistake 1: Using “formally” for something from the past

Incorrect:

She was formally the CEO of the company.

If you mean she used to be the CEO, this is incorrect.

Correct:

She was formerly the CEO of the company.

Mistake 2: Using “formerly” for an official action

Incorrect:

He was formerly appointed as chairman.

If you mean the appointment was official, use formally.

Correct:

He was formally appointed as chairman.

Mistake 3: Confusing “former” and “formal”

Remember:

• Former → previous
• Formal → official or proper

Therefore:

• Formerly → previously
• Formally → officially or properly

Mistake 4: Assuming the words are spelling variants

They are not spelling variants of the same word. They are different words with different meanings.

Formerly or Formally Comparison Table

Word	Root Word	Main Meaning	Example
Former	Former	Previous	He is a former teacher.
Formerly	Former	Previously	She formerly worked here.
Formal	Formal	Official or proper	He wore formal clothes.
Formally	Formal	Officially or properly	She was formally introduced.

Formerly or Formally in Everyday Examples

Understanding real-world examples makes the difference easier to remember.

In Emails

Formerly:

Please note that our company was formerly known as ABC Traders.

Formally:

We would like to formally invite you to our annual meeting.

In News Writing

Formerly:

The building was formerly used as a government office.

Formally:

The minister formally opened the new facility.

In Social Media

Formerly:

Our page was formerly called Daily Grammar Tips.

Formally:

We are formally announcing the launch of our new website.

In Formal Writing

Formerly:

The region was formerly part of a larger administrative area.

Formally:

The agreement was formally approved by both parties.

In Academic Writing

Formerly:

The species was formerly classified under a different genus.

Formally:

The theory was formally presented in the research paper.

Formerly or Formally Google Trends & Usage Data

Search interest for “formerly or formally” reflects a common English usage question rather than a difference in regional spelling.

Google search patterns generally show that people look for these words together because they are easy to confuse. 

The strongest search intent is usually educational: users want to know which word fits a sentence.

The words also appear in different contexts.

Formerly is common in:

• Company histories
• Biographies
• Historical writing
• News reports
• Business descriptions
• Name changes

Formally is common in:

• Business communication
• Official announcements
• Legal writing
• Ceremonies
• Academic writing
• Professional communication

Country-level search interest can change over time and may vary with local education patterns, language use, and search behavior. 

Importantly, there is no British-versus-American spelling split for these words.

For SEO purposes, phrases such as “formerly or formally,” “formerly vs formally,” “formally or formerly,” and “difference between formerly and formally” can all reflect the same core search intent.

Formerly or Formally: Common Variations

Search Variation	Meaning	Correct Use
Formerly or formally	Difference between two words	Both are correct
Formerly vs formally	Comparison	Choose by meaning
Formally or formerly	Same comparison in reverse	Choose by meaning
Formerly meaning	Previously	Past situations
Formally meaning	Officially/properly	Official or proper actions
Formerly known as	Previously called	Name or identity change
Formally announced	Officially announced	Official announcement
Formally introduced	Officially introduced	Official introduction

FAQs About Formerly or Formally

What is the difference between formerly and formally?

Formerly means “previously” or “in the past.” Formally means “officially,” “properly,” or “in a formal way.”

Is it “formerly known as” or “formally known as”?

The usual phrase is “formerly known as.” It means something had a different name in the past.

The company was formerly known as Star Tech.

Is “formally” a correct word?

Yes. Formally is a standard English adverb. It describes something done officially, properly, or in a formal manner.

Is “formerly” a correct word?

Yes. Formerly is also a standard English adverb. It means previously or in the past.

Are formerly and formally interchangeable?

No. They have different meanings and cannot normally be substituted for each other.

Does British English use “formerly” differently from American English?

No major spelling difference exists. Both British and American English use formerly with the same spelling and meaning.

How can I remember the difference?

Connect each word to its root:

Former → formerly → previous

Formal → formally → official or proper

This simple connection will help you choose the correct word quickly.

Conclusion

The difference between formerly or formally is simple once you focus on meaning. Formerly means “previously” or “in the past,” while formally means “officially,” “properly,” or “in a formal manner.”

Use formerly when you are talking about an earlier name, position, role, place, or situation. For example, “The company was formerly known as Bright Media.” 

Use formally when you are describing an official action or a formal manner, such as “The new manager was formally introduced to the staff.”

Unlike some English words, these two words do not have separate British and American spellings. The same spelling is used in both varieties of English.

The easiest way to remember them is to connect formerly with former and formally with formal. 

Once you understand this small difference, you can use both words with confidence in emails, academic writing, business communication, news articles, and everyday English.