Formerly vs Now it used to be

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Formerly

Formal Beyond 10,000 (less common) B2 adverb

Now it used to be

Top 2,000 (common)

Most formal: Formerly Most common: Now it used to be

	Formerly	Now it used to be
Pronunciation	🇬🇧 /["/ˈfɔːməli/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/ˈfɔːrmərli/"]/	🇬🇧 //naʊ ɪt juːst tə biː// 🇺🇸 //naʊ ɪt juːst tə bi//
Meaning	in the past; before now	Something that was true in the past but may not be now.
Example	Namibia, formerly known as South West Africa	Now it used to be a lively market here.
Register	Formal	Neutral
How common	Beyond 10,000 (less common)	Top 2,000 (common)
CEFR level	B2	-
Part of speech	adverb
Collocations	formerly a leader, formerly known, formerly used	now it used to be, used to be popular, used to be common
Antonyms	currently, now	-
Common mistakes	Confused with 'formally' — 'formerly' relates to the past, while 'formally' relates to official contexts., Omitting it when describing past roles or states, which can lead to ambiguity.	Mixing up verb tenses; 'Now it use to be' is incorrect., Forgetting to include 'it' in the phrase., Confusing with 'now it is' which has a different meaning.
Usage notes	Use 'formerly' to describe something that was true in the past but is no longer the case. It is more formal than saying 'used to'. Avoid in casual conversations.	Often used to refer to changes over time, popular in conversational English. Avoid in formal writing.

See it in real clips

Agatha Christies Poirot › S1 E1

Formerly in the employ of Mrs. Ernestine Todd

Formerly

Now, it used to be, I ran to get where I was going,

Now it used to be

Frequently asked questions: Formerly vs Now it used to be

What's the difference between Formerly and Now it used to be?

Formerly: in the past; before now Now it used to be: Something that was true in the past but may not be now.

Which is more formal: Formerly and Now it used to be?

Formerly is the most formal of these.

Which is more common: Formerly and Now it used to be?

Now it used to be is the most common in everyday English.

Can you show an example of each?

Formerly: Namibia, formerly known as South West Africa Now it used to be: Now it used to be a lively market here.

Can I use Formerly and Now it used to be interchangeably?

Not always. Formerly and Now it used to be are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.