GRAMMAR Flashcards
Former vs Later
”Former” vs. “Latter”: Remembering Which Is Which Couldn’t Be Easier
When using former and latter to distinguish between two things, remember “F for first, L for last.”
The Simpsons and Game of Thrones are both great shows, but I prefer the former.
This writer is a fan of The Simpsons, which is the first show mentioned.
She thinks polar bears and hamsters are both cute, but I could only recommend the latter as a pet.
This writer holds a belief that hamsters, the last animal mentioned, is the better of the two companions for a human.
Keep in mind that it isn’t a good idea to overuse former and latter in any one piece of writing. Readers tend to be confused by this because it essentially asks the reader to glance back at the two items to reference which item was listed first and which was last. If you ask your readers to perform too many mental maneuvers, they tend to lose interest quickly. However, in academic writing it can be very useful. Naturally, because these terms refer to items in a list, never use them in spoken language, because there is nothing for the listener to go back and refer to—they are just words in the wind.
Never Use “Former” and “Latter” with Lists of More Than Two
Here’s a tip: The principal caveat about using former and latter is this: these are words that can only be applied to two things, never three (or more).
My hobbies are singing, playing the piano, and dancing, but the former is my true passion.
My hobbies are singing, playing the piano, and dancing, but the first is my true passion.
Standstill
Noun 1. standstill - a situation in which no progress can be made or no advancement is possible; “reached an impasse on the negotiations”
deadlock, impasse, stalemate, dead end
situation - a complex or critical or unusual difficulty; “the dangerous situation developed suddenly”; “that’s quite a situation”; “no human situation is simple”
2. standstill - an interruption of normal activity
tie-up, stand
stop, halt - the event of something end
a situation in which all movement or activity has stopped:
be at a standstill Labour negotiations are almost at a standstill.
bring sth to a standstill The business was brought to a standstill by the postal workers’ dispute.
come to a standstill
