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Chris -- 2018-04-11

#1 2007-10-19 14:57:19

sigmet
Member
Registered: 2007-10-19
Posts: 1

"formally" for "formerly"

I see this all the time here in New England. The word “formerly” is generally pronounced “foahmally” since the locals are saving their “R’s” for a rainy day.

You’ll see an announcement that “Sue Johnson, formally of Hair Visions, is now working at Hair Concepts.”

So I’m always confused – is she moonlighting at Visions but “formally” (officially) works at Concepts, or did she move?

Not sure if this is an eggcorn or just a mispronunciation.

-Steve

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#2 2011-09-26 10:27:52

kem
Eggcornista
From: Victoria, BC
Registered: 2007-08-28
Posts: 2851

Re: "formally" for "formerly"

I came across the “formally << formerly” substitution in a recent email. It is everywhere on the web. Hard to know if the semantics of “formally” play any role in the switch.


Hatching new language, one eggcorn at a time.

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#3 2016-08-10 02:30:58

Dixon Wragg
Eggcornista
From: Cotati, California
Registered: 2008-07-04
Posts: 1375

Re: "formally" for "formerly"

Just to chime in, here’s the example I stumbled upon recently:

...this album was produced by Ten Wheel Drive’s Genya Ravan (formally of one of the first all-girl bands ever, Goldie and The Gingerbreads–real name: Goldie Zelkowitz).
music discussion

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#4 2017-12-10 17:12:42

burred
Eggcornista
From: Montreal
Registered: 2008-03-17
Posts: 1112

Re: "formally" for "formerly"

Formally for formerly makes sense in this context:

The Artist Formally Known As Prince
Prince was an artist. No single sect of art or genre could contain him.
http://forwardtimes.com/tag/the-artist- … as-prince/

“The artist formally known as X” has reached snowclone proportions.

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#5 2017-12-11 13:07:45

yanogator
Eggcornista
From: Ohio
Registered: 2007-06-07
Posts: 237

Re: "formally" for "formerly"

burred wrote:

Formally for formerly makes sense in this context:

The Artist Formally Known As Prince
Prince was an artist. No single sect of art or genre could contain him.
http://forwardtimes.com/tag/the-artist- … as-prince/

“The artist formally known as X” has reached snowclone proportions.

Except that he was formally known by that weird symbol instead of a name. He was informally known, and formerly known as Prince.


“I always wanted to be somebody. I should have been more specific.” – Lily Tomlin

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#6 2017-12-11 17:08:23

burred
Eggcornista
From: Montreal
Registered: 2008-03-17
Posts: 1112

Re: "formally" for "formerly"

Yanogator wrote:

Except that he was formally known by that weird symbol instead of a name. He was informally known, and formerly known as Prince.

I thought you had me there, Bruce. A little deep background digging (that is, going straight to Wikipedia) reveals that, after 2000, Prince could be called the artist formerly formally known as .

Last edited by burred (2017-12-11 17:15:01)

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