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Chris -- 2025-05-10
#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: 2887
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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