I used to work

USAGE SUMMARY

"I used to work" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It can be used to describe a past job or profession that you no longer have. For example: "I used to work as a teacher, but I left to pursue my own business."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

I used to work very long hours.

The New York Times

"I used to work in nursing homes.

The New York Times

I used to work at the Met.

The New York Times

I used to work in retail.

The New York Times

I used to work in it.

The Guardian

I used to work on that floor".

The New York Times

"I used to work in an office.

The New York Times

I used to work in a mine.

The Guardian

As a teenager, I used to work on farms.

The New York Times

I used to work at NASA in Virginia.

The New Yorker

"I used to work in here," he said.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing past work experience in a professional setting, follow "I used to work" with specific details such as the company name, job title, and duration of employment.

Common error

Avoid mixing past and present tenses when discussing past work experience. Ensure the entire sentence maintains a consistent past tense after using "I used to work" to prevent confusion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I used to work" functions as a statement of past employment or occupation. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a standard way to express that one was previously employed but no longer holds that position. It introduces information about one's prior professional life.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Science

18%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "I used to work" is a common and grammatically correct way to describe past employment, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. It's versatile, fitting both neutral and professional contexts, predominantly appearing in news and media sources. When using it, it's important to maintain consistent tense and provide specific details about the job. Alternatives like "I formerly worked" can offer a more formal tone, but "I used to work" remains a straightforward and widely understood way to share your past work experience.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I formerly worked

Replaces "used to" with "formerly", indicating a past work experience.

I was previously employed

Uses a more formal tone to describe previous employment.

I once worked

Indicates a past work experience that is no longer current.

I had a job

A simpler way to express having worked somewhere in the past.

I used to be employed

More passive construction, but retains the meaning of previous employment.

I was once an employee

Highlights the past employee status.

My previous job was

Focuses on describing the nature of the past job.

I have worked in the past

A general statement about having work experience.

I previously held a position

Formal way of describing a prior work role.

I am a former employee

Highlights the fact that the speaker no longer works at a certain company or in a specific role.

FAQs

How can I use "I used to work" in a sentence?

Use "I used to work" to describe a job or position you held in the past but no longer do. For example, "I used to work at a bank, but now I'm a freelance writer."

What's a more formal way to say "I used to work"?

For a more formal tone, you can say "I was previously employed" or "I formerly worked" depending on the context.

What can I say instead of "I used to work" to emphasize the type of work?

You can use "My previous job was" followed by the job description to highlight the nature of your past employment.

Is it correct to say "I use to work"?

No, the correct phrase is "I used to work". The "d" in "used" is essential because it indicates the past tense.