2023-06-10 ศัพท์ น่าสับสน ชุด L - Latter & later & former

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Dictionary.com

ออกเสียง Latter = ‘LAT-er’

ออกเสียง  later = ‘LEI-ter’

ออกเสียง former = ‘FAWR-mer’

 

NECTEC’s Lexitron-2 Dictionary

ให้คำแปล Latter = n. ส่วนหลัง adj. ภายหลัง Adv. ต่อมา 

ให้คำแปล later = adv. ในไม่ช้า ในภายหลัง

ให้คำแปล former = adj. แต่ก่อน อันก่อน

 

Dictionary of Problem Words and Expression

Latter & later

As is mentioned in the entry FORMER,

Latter means “the second of two”:

“I prefer your Latter suggestion to your first.”

 

Latter also has the meaning of “more advanced in time” 

and “near the end”:

“In the Latter years of his life, he was a happy man.”

“In these Latter months she has become angry and frustrated.”

 

In sentences such as these two,

later being the comparative degree of late.

Could be substituted for Latter.

However, later is more likely 

to be used to refer largely

or solely to time references,

 

whereas latter can refer 

not only to time but to any kind of series:

“I may be free or occupied in the morning; 

in the latter event, I shall have to see you later in the day.”

 

Common Errors In English Usage Dictionary

Later & latter

Except in the expression “latter-day” (modern),

the word “latter” usually refers 

back to the last mentioned of a set of alternatives. 

“We gave the kids a choice of a vacation in Paris, 

Rome, or Disney World.

Of course, the latter was their choice.”

In other contexts, not referring back to such a list, 

the word you want is “later.”

 

The A-Z of correct English Usage Dictionary:

later or latter? 

LATER is the comparative of ‘late’. (late, later, latest) 

I will see you LATER. 

You are LATER than I expected. 

 

LATTER is the opposite of ‘former’. 

Cats and dogs are wonderful pets 

but the LATTER need regular exercise. 

Note: 

use ‘latter’ to indicate the second of two references; 

use ‘last’ to indicate the final one of three or more. 

 

Dictionary.com

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

First things first:

former and latter are both terms that

denote an item’s place in a two-part sequence.

Former refers to the first of a set,

while latter refers to the second, or last, item.

They usually appear in the sentence 

immediately following the sequence they are describing.

Former and latter in sequence

Take this example from The Young Student’s Companion:

“I have a grey horse and a black horse; 

take the former, and send the latter to my brother.”

 

Here, the former item in the list is a grey horse,

and the latter item is a black horse.

By using the terms in this way,

the speaker manages to 

indicate which horse the listener should take

and which should be sent to their brother 

without having to repeat the full description of each horse.

Of course, the terms can be 

used independently of each other

while still referring to a sequence.

 

In addition to meaning “being the second mentioned of two,”

latter can also refer to something 

that is “more advanced in time” and 

“near or comparatively near the end.”

 

It originated before 1000 from the Old English lætra. 

The full name of the Mormon Church, 

for example, is “The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.”

Here, Latter-Day is a reference to a time period 

and is almost synonymous with late.

 

How to use them

Former and latter usually show up 

in formal or technical writing.

It’s rare that either word appears in casual speech.

This is partly because it sounds odd to modern listeners, 

but mostly because the audience can’t go back 

over the preceding sentence to double-check 

which item in a set is former and which is latter.

An easy way to remember the difference 

is to recall that 

both former and first begin with an F,

while both latter and last start with an L.

 

Just remember that former and latter

shouldn’t appear after lists that contain more than two items.

COLLINS ENGLISH DICTIONARY

USAGE FOR LATTER

The latter should only be used 

to refer to the second of two items:

 

many people choose to go by hovercraft 

rather than use the ferry, 

but I prefer the latter.

 

The last of three or more items 

can be referred to as the last-named

 

Collins COBUILD English Usage

Former & late

 

1. 'former'

You use former in front of a noun 

to indicate that the person you are talking about 

is no longer the thing referred to by the noun.

 

For example, 

the former chairman of a company 

used to be the chairman, 

but is not the chairman now.

...former President Gerald Ford.

...William Nickerson, a former Treasury official.

 

2. 'late'

You use late in front of a name or noun 

to indicate that the person you are talking about 

has recently died.

...the late Mr Parkin.

I'd like to talk to you about your late husband.

 

Collins COBUILD English Usage

Latter& former

The latter should only be used to refer 

to the second of two things

or people which have already been mentioned.

Given the choice between working for someone else 

and working for the family business, she'd prefer the latter.

 

You use the former to talk about 

the first of two things already mentioned.

These two firms are in direct competition, with the former trying to cut costs and increase profits.

 

If you are talking about three or more things or people,

don't use 'the latter' or 'the former'.

Use an expression with the last or the first.

The company has three branches, 

in Birmingham, Plymouth, and Greenock.

The last of these will close next year.

 

If you are mentioning things for the first time,

don't use 'the former' or 'the latter'.

Use the first or the second.

There will be two matches next week.

The first will be in Brighton, and the second in London.

 

Collins COBUILD English Usage

After – afterwards - later

1. 'after'

After is usually a preposition.

If something happens after a particular time or event,

it happens during the period that follows that time or event.

Vineeta came in just after midnight.

We'll hear about everything after dinner.

 

You can say that someone does something 

after doing something else.

After leaving school he worked as an accountant.

After completing and signing the form, please return it to me.

 

Be Careful!
Don't say that someone is 'after' a particular age.

You say that they are over that age.

She was well over fifty.

 

Be Careful!
Don't use 'after' to say that 

something is at the back of something else.

The word you use is behind.

I've parked behind the school.

 

2. 'afterwards'

Afterwards is an adverb.

If something happens afterwards,

it happens after a particular event or time 

that has already been mentioned.

 

You often use afterwards in expressions 

like not long afterwards, soon afterwards, 

and shortly afterwards.

She died soon afterwards.

Shortly afterwards her marriage broke up.

3. 'afterward'

Afterward is also sometimes used, 

especially in American English.

I left soon afterward.

Not long afterward, he made a trip from L.A. to San Jose.

 

4. 'later'

Later is an adverb. 

You use later to refer to a time or situation 

that follows the time when you are speaking.

I'll go and see her later.

A little, much, and not much can be used with later.

A little later, the lights went out.

I learned all this much later.

You can use after, afterwards, or later 

following a phrase that mentions a period of time, 

in order to say when something happens.

I met him five years after his wife's death.

She wrote about it six years afterwards.

Ten minutes later he left the house.

 

Merriam-Webster Dictionary

Can latter be used of more than two?

There is some controversy afoot 

regarding the use of latter, particularly 

regarding its use to refer to items in a series.

Many commentators insist that 

latter can only be used of a series that consists of two:

We have a chicken entree and a vegetarian entree: 

do you prefer the former or the latter?

 

When presented with a series of three or more,

they say, anyone wishing 

to highlight the last item in the series

should use last and not latter:

We had soup, fish, and dessert, and the last was uninspiring.

 

But our evidence shows that latter is used 

to refer to the last in a series regardless of number:

This use is common enough 

that most modern dictionaries make mention of it 

in their definitions for latter—and indeed they should, 

since our evidence for this particular use 

is several hundred years old.

 

Despite this evidence, however, 

there are still those who object to its use;

if you are concerned about such things, 

use last to refer to the last item in a series of three or more.

 

Merriam-Webster Dictionary

Choose the Right Synonym for former

Adjective

PRECEDING, ANTECEDENT, FOREGOING, PREVIOUS, PRIOR, FORMER, ANTERIOR

mean being before.

 

PRECEDING usually implies being immediately before 

in time or in place. 

the preceding sentence

ANTECEDENT applies to order in time 

and may suggest a causal relation. 

conditions antecedent to the revolution

 

FOREGOING applies chiefly to statements. 

the foregoing remarks

 

PREVIOUS and PRIOR imply existing or occurring earlier, but PRIOR often adds an implication of greater importance. 

a child from a previous marriage a prior obligation

 

FORMER implies always a definite comparison 

or contrast with something that is latter. 

the former name of the company

ANTERIOR applies to position before or ahead of 

usually in space, sometimes in time or order. 

the anterior lobe of the brain