did not work for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "did not work for" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that someone was not employed by a particular person or organization, or that a certain method or approach was ineffective. Example: "I did not work for that company long enough to understand its culture."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But leptin did not work for everyone.

The New York Times

Kelley did not work for the government.

The Guardian - Opinion

"He did not work for us".

The New York Times

This approached did not work for several reasons.

Cornell University

" 'Predict and provide' did not work for roads.

The Economist

He said Mr. Mazaheri did not work for Kayson.

The New York Times

Abramson counters that Judith Miller "did not work for me".

The New Yorker

But it did not work for Italian-Americans".

The New York Times

"I did not work for 12 years," Ms. Quigley recalled.

The New York Times

I did not work for the secret police".

The New York Times

No, he did not work for Orin Johnson.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing employment history, "did not work for" provides a straightforward way to state non-employment, especially useful in formal or professional settings.

Common error

Avoid using "did not work for" when a more precise term would better describe the situation. For example, instead of saying "the medication did not work for the pain", consider specifying "the medication did not alleviate the specific type of pain" to provide more accurate information.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "did not work for" functions primarily as a verb phrase indicating that something was ineffective or someone was not employed by a certain entity. It commonly connects a subject with an outcome, expressing a lack of success or affiliation. As Ludwig AI confirms, this is a standard English phrase with a straightforward meaning.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Academia

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "did not work for" is a versatile and commonly used expression in the English language. As Ludwig AI highlights, it is grammatically correct and serves to indicate either ineffectiveness or a lack of employment. Its neutral register makes it suitable for various contexts, with the most frequent appearances in news and media. While the phrase is generally straightforward, it's important to ensure clarity and avoid ambiguity by providing specific details about the context of its use. Consider alternatives like "was ineffective" or "was not employed by" for more precise communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

did not employ

Specifically refers to a lack of employment. More direct and less ambiguous in this context.

was ineffective for

Emphasizes the lack of effectiveness of something for a particular purpose or person. Shifts focus from action to result.

was not on staff at

Specifically describes someone not being employed or affiliated with an organization.

didn't function properly for

Focuses on the malfunction or improper functioning of something. More technical in tone.

was never an employee of

Emphasizes the absence of an employment relationship. More formal and definitive.

failed to assist

Highlights the failure to provide help or support. More formal and direct.

proved unsuitable for

Indicates that something was not appropriate or fitting for a particular situation. More formal.

was unavailing for

A more literary and formal way of saying something was ineffective or useless. Less common.

had no association with

Indicates a lack of connection or affiliation, which may or may not imply employment.

never collaborated with

Focuses on the absence of collaborative work, implying no professional partnership.

FAQs

How can I use "did not work for" in a sentence?

You can use "did not work for" to indicate that something was ineffective, as in "The new strategy "did not work for" the company", or to state that someone was not employed by an organization, such as "He "did not work for" that agency".

What are some alternatives to "did not work for" when referring to ineffectiveness?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "was ineffective", "failed to produce results", or "proved unsuccessful" to convey a similar meaning.

Is it correct to use "did not work for" when discussing employment history?

Yes, it's perfectly acceptable. For instance, you might say, "She "did not work for" that company after all". Other valid alternatives include "was not employed by" or "was never an employee of".

What's the difference between "did not work for" and "was not suitable for"?

"Did not work for" implies that something was tried but failed to achieve the desired outcome or that there was no employment relationship. "Was not suitable for", on the other hand, suggests that something was inherently inappropriate for a particular purpose or situation, regardless of whether it was attempted.