formerly held the position of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "formerly held the position of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing someone's past job title or role within an organization. Example: "She formerly held the position of Marketing Director at XYZ Corporation before moving to a new company."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

He formerly held the position of executive director with the Irvine Transportation Authority, City of Irvine.

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

He formerly held the title of senior vice president for football operations.

The New York Times - Sports

America formerly held the top spot.

Huffington Post

He holds the position of Treasurer.

Johns Hopkins University

Currently, Kruse holds the position of CMO at Tough Mudder.

TechCrunch

He held the position until 2001.

The New York Times

He's held the position since 2001.

Los Angeles Times

The Minister of Interior nominee is Rahmani Fazli, who formerly held a position as the head of the Supreme Audit Court, in addition to working as the political deputy of the national media under moderate conservative Ali Larjani, who once headed National Radio and Television and was an opponent of former President Ahmadinejad.

HuffPost

Ricardel formerly held positions in the administrations of Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush.

HuffPost

Richard C. Rattenbury has served as curator of history at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum since 1987, and formerly held curatorial positions with the Winchester Museum at the Buffalo Bill Historical Center and with the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum.

Britannica

"My conscience is clear," said Mr. Laxman, who was Mr. Vajpayee's choice for president of the Bharatiya Janata Party and the first person from one of the formerly untouchable castes to hold the position.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "formerly held the position of" to highlight a person's relevant experience or qualifications when introducing them or describing their background.

Common error

Be specific about the position and organization. Saying someone "formerly held a position" is vague. Instead, state, "formerly held the position of Marketing Director at Acme Corp."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "formerly held the position of" functions as a descriptive element, indicating someone's past professional role. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and suitable for describing past job titles.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

34%

Academia

19%

Wiki

11%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

10%

Science

9%

Formal & Business

8%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "formerly held the position of" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression for describing past professional roles. As Ludwig AI highlights, it's applicable across various contexts, including news, academia, and professional communications. While similar phrases exist, such as "previously served as" or "once occupied the role of", the key is to ensure clarity and specificity when detailing the role. Usage patterns indicate frequent occurrence in news and media sources, followed by academic and general knowledge platforms, making it a versatile and valuable phrase for professional and formal writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Previously occupied the role of

Replaces "held the position of" with "occupied the role of", providing a slightly more formal tone.

Formerly served as

Uses "served as" instead of "held the position of", emphasizing service and duty.

Used to hold the post of

Employs "post" instead of "position", suggesting a formal assignment or duty.

Had the position of

A more direct and simple way to express that someone held a position in the past.

Previously tenured as

Specifically indicates a tenured position, implying a long-term or permanent role.

Once held the office of

"Office" suggests a higher or more official position.

Formerly acted as

Focuses on the action or function performed in the role, rather than the title itself.

Prior to this, was

A simple way to state someone's prior role, often used in a chronological recounting of someone's career.

Held a prior appointment as

Highlights the formal nature of the position and the act of being appointed.

At one time, was the

A less formal way to indicate a past role, implying the role may not have been held for very long.

FAQs

How can I use "formerly held the position of" in a sentence?

You can use "formerly held the position of" to describe someone's previous role in an organization. For instance, "She "formerly held the position of" CEO before becoming chairwoman."

What are some alternatives to saying "formerly held the position of"?

Alternatives include "previously served as", "once occupied the role of", or "used to hold the post of". For example, instead of saying "He "formerly held the position of" director", you could say "He "previously served as" director".

Is it correct to say "formerly held the position at" instead of "formerly held the position of"?

While "formerly held the position at" might be used in informal contexts, "formerly held the position of" is generally more grammatically correct and appropriate for formal writing. Using "of" specifies the position itself.

What's the difference between "formerly held the position of" and "currently holds the position of"?

"Formerly held the position of" indicates a past role, while "currently holds the position of" indicates the present role. The first is used to describe someone's history, and the second describes their present employment or duty.