Spelling Thursday: Formally and formerly

These two are less of a problem once you know there's a trap here. Think about what you are saying:

• If you are referrering to how something used to be, you want 'former'.
• If you want to describe an action that is according to convention or etiquette, it's 'formal'.

Then tack the -ly on the end, and you're away.

As seen in the wild:
'The artist formerly known as Prince has changed his name to a hard-to-describe symbol.'

'My dog Socks is formally known as Lady Arwen Evenstar of Featherstonehough III -- that's her Kennel Club name.'