TOEIC Link Part 5: formally versus formerly

Formally and formerly are separated by one vowel, so Part 5 uses them to test whether you are reading the sentence or skimming the shape of the word. Both are adverbs. Formally means in an official, proper, or ceremonious manner. Formerly means in the past; at an earlier time; previously. The item is decided by asking whether the blank describes how something is done or when something was true. For the full set of look-alike traps, start with the commonly confused word pairs master index.

The core rule: officially versus previously

• formally (adverb) = in an official or proper way. It describes the manner of an action — following rules, procedures, or etiquette. The merger was formally approved by the board. It answers how was it done? Anchor it with formally → officially; formally announce, formally request, formally dressed — done in the proper, official manner.
• formerly (adverb) = at an earlier time; previously. It describes when something used to be the case. The building was formerly a textile factory. It answers when was this true? Anchor it with formerly → previously; formerly known as, formerly employed, formerly located — true at an earlier time but not now.

A quick anchor: formally = officially (formally approved); formerly = previously (formerly a factory). The word about the proper manner is formally; the word about the past is formerly.

Why Part 5 likes this pair

Both are adverbs, both can sit in the same slot before a verb, and they differ by one letter, so the wrong option reads smoothly and only the meaning exposes it. If the sentence is about the way something is carried out — an official act, a proper procedure — you need formally. If it is about a previous state, name, job, or location, you need formerly.

The company __ submitted its application to the regulator.

The sentence is about submitting through the proper channel, so it needs formally.

Our new director was __ a manager at a competing firm.

The sentence is about a past job, so it needs formerly.

Spotting the clue

Check whether the sentence is about manner or about time:

• Does the sentence describe an official act, a proper procedure, or ceremony — often near announce, approve, request, sign, or dressed? → choose formally (formally announced, formally dressed).
• Does the sentence describe a previous state, name, job, or place — often near known as, was, a, or located? → choose formerly (formerly known as, formerly located in).

A quick test: can you replace the word with "officially" and keep the meaning? Then it is formally. Can you replace it with "previously" or "in the past"? Then it is formerly. In TOEIC business scenarios, formally dominates procedural sentences — approvals, announcements, filings — while formerly appears in company-history and biographical sentences, especially the fixed phrase formerly known as. For more pairs where meaning turns on business context, see the business and finance confusable pairs study guide.

Common Part 5 patterns

TOEIC Part 5 reuses a few frames for this pair. Recognizing them saves seconds on test day:

• "__ announce / approve / request / notify" → formally (official manner). The policy was formally adopted.
• "__ dressed / trained / recognized" → formally (proper manner). Guests were asked to arrive formally dressed.
• "__ known as / called / named" → formerly (previous name). The brand, formerly known as Acme, rebranded last year.
• "was __ a manager / located / employed" → formerly (past state). She was formerly employed in the audit division.

Match the frame first, then confirm with the meaning: an official or proper manner → formally; a previous state or name → formerly.

Practice check

Decide which word fits each blank:

1. The agreement will be __ signed at Friday's ceremony.
2. Our headquarters were __ located in Osaka before the move.
3. Employees must __ request time off through the portal.
4. The consultant was __ a director at the parent company.

Answers: 1. formally (official ceremony); 2. formerly (a past location); 3. formally (proper procedure); 4. formerly (a previous role).

The takeaway: formally is about doing something in an official or proper manner, and formerly is about how things were in the past — so decide by asking whether the sentence is about manner or about time. When you see announce, approve, or dressed, reach for formally; when you see known as, located, or was, reach for formerly. For more distinctions like this one, keep working through the commonly confused word pairs master index.