first, former, last, latter

Former and latter refer to only two things or persons.

• Both Barbara and her mother had attended Sir Adam Beck Collegiate, the former in the 1960s and the latter in the 1930s.
• If Nelida must choose between bankruptcy and repaying her student loans, I hope she opts for the latter.

For a group of more than two, use first and last to compare or to refer to two things or persons.

• The YMCA-YWCA offers courses on sailboarding, dinghy sailing, canoeing and kayaking; however, the first and the last are not offered on weekends.
• You will come to Richmond Street, Kootenay Avenue, Exhibition Boulevard and Airport Road. At the last of these, turn left.

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TERMIUM Plus^®, la banque de données terminologiques et linguistiques du gouvernement du Canada
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