“Former” vs. “Latter”: What’s the Difference?

The words former and latter are often used together when comparing two things.
They help you refer back to the first or second item in a list — but people often mix them up.
Let’s break them down clearly.

Former: The First of Two

Meaning

“Former” refers to the first of two things that were mentioned.
It’s used to talk about something that came before or was previous.

Examples of “Former” (10 total)

1. Between coffee and tea, I prefer the former.
2. John and Mark were teammates; the former became a coach.
3. Of the two plans, the former seems better.
4. He’s a former president of the club.
5. I lived in Paris and London — I liked the former more.
6. She chose between art and science, picking the former.
7. The former employee now runs his own business.
8. Cats and dogs were mentioned; the former are quieter.
9. The former option saves more time.
10. He’s my former teacher from high school.

🧠 Tip:
If you’re talking about the first thing or someone previous, it’s former.

Latter: The Second of Two

Meaning

“Latter” refers to the second of two things mentioned.
It’s used when you want to talk about the one that came later in the sentence or list.

Examples of “Latter” (10 total)

1. Between pizza and pasta, I’ll take the latter.
2. The novel and the film were both great, but I prefer the latter.
3. She worked as a teacher and a principal; the latter position paid more.
4. I lived in Tokyo and Osaka — I liked the latter better.
5. He considered law and medicine, choosing the latter.
6. Both ideas are smart, but the latter is more practical.
7. Of the two candidates, the latter was more confident.
8. I studied French and Spanish; the latter was easier.
9. The latter part of the movie was more exciting.
10. They discussed peace and war; the latter topic caused debate.

🧠 Tip:
If you’re referring to the second thing or something that came later, use latter.

Quick Comparison Table

How to Remember the Difference

👉 Former = First (Both start with “F”)
👉 Latter = Last (Both start with “L”)

💡 Memory Trick:

“Former” = the first thing mentioned.
“Latter” = the later one.

Why Writers and AI Mix Them Up

Because both words describe relationships between two items, they’re easy to confuse in long or complex sentences.
That’s why Humanizey helps clean up subtle writing issues like these, ensuring your comparisons sound natural and grammatically precise.

FAQs

1. Can “former” and “latter” be used for more than two things?

No — they’re only used when comparing two. If there are more, use first, second, third, etc.

2. Can “former” mean “previous”?

Yes! For example: a former president means a person who was president before.

3. Can “latter” describe time?

Yes. Example: The latter part of the year means the second half of the year.

4. Are they formal words?

They’re slightly formal but common in writing, news, and professional speech.

Practice: Choose the Correct Word (“Former” or “Latter”)

(Answers are listed at the end.)

1. Between chocolate and vanilla, I prefer the ___.
2. She worked as a lawyer and a judge; the ___ role was more demanding.
3. I liked both movies, but the ___ was longer.
4. The company hired two managers; the ___ had more experience.
5. Between reading and writing, he enjoys the ___ more.
6. I’ve lived in Rome and Milan; I liked the ___ city better.
7. The ___ president introduced the new policy.
8. Of the two plans, the ___ is more affordable.
9. They debated peace and war — the ___ topic was more intense.
10. She studied art and design, choosing the ___ as her career.

Answers

1. former
2. latter
3. latter
4. latter
5. former
6. latter
7. former
8. latter
9. latter
10. latter