has previously held

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "has previously held" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a position or role that someone has occupied in the past. Example: "She has previously held the position of marketing director at several leading firms."

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Tampa has previously held the Super Bowl.

The New York Times - Sports

She has previously held positions at Exelixis and Genentech.

University of California, Berkeley

Danielle has previously held positions in Multicultural Affairs, LGBTQ affairs, and residence life.

Stanford University

Leveson has previously held the position of senior presiding judge for England and Wales.

The Guardian

He has previously held renewable energy positions as a consultant, council officer and project manager.

The Guardian

She has previously held directorships at companies as diverse as Friends Provident, Glas Cymru and Gallaher.

The Guardian - Business

She has previously held non-executive director roles at Lloyds TSB, Tesco and New Look.

The Guardian - Business

He has previously held faculty positions at the University of Sheffield and Pennsylvania State University.

The Guardian

He has previously held posts including Foreign Secretary, Transport Secretary and Scottish Secretary.

Independent

Neither has previously held a major management position in pro hockey.

The New York Times - Sports

Pratima has previously held various senior positions in the renewable energy field, including roles at GE and Vestas Wind Systems.

Columbia University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing someone's professional background, use "has previously held" to clearly indicate past positions and responsibilities. This can add credibility and context to their current role or expertise.

Common error

Avoid using "has previously hold" or "had previously held" when "has previously held" is grammatically correct and more concise. Ensure the verb "hold" is in the past participle form when used with "has" or "had".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has previously held" functions as a verb phrase in the present perfect tense. It indicates that someone has experience or a history of occupying a particular position or role. Ludwig provides numerous examples demonstrating its widespread use.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Academia

30%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Science

15%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "has previously held" is a grammatically sound and very common verb phrase used to indicate that someone has occupied a specific role or position in the past. According to Ludwig, the phrase sees frequent use in diverse contexts, including news media, academia, formal business, and science, rendering a neutral to professional register. Its purpose is typically to provide relevant background information, establishing a person's credentials or experience. When using the phrase, ensure the correct tense is used. Alternatives such as "formerly held" or "previously occupied" may offer suitable substitutions, depending on the specific nuance desired. Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase is perfectly acceptable in written English and provides ample real-world examples.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

formerly held

Emphasizes the past nature of the holding, suggesting a clear break from the previous role.

previously occupied

Focuses on the physical or metaphorical space that was held, rather than the act of holding itself.

once held

Highlights a point in the past when the position was held, often implying a change in status.

had previously held

Shifts the tense to past perfect, emphasizing the completion of the holding before another past event.

has in the past held

Adds emphasis on the time frame when the position was held, less concise than the original.

used to hold

Indicates a habitual or regular holding of the position in the past.

previously served as

Emphasizes the act of service or duty performed while holding the position.

past roles included

Refers to the position as part of a list of previous roles, less direct than the original.

experience includes holding

Frames the position as part of a broader range of experience, less specific than the original.

comes with a background of holding

Highlights the background or qualifications related to having held the position, less focused on the holding itself.

FAQs

How to use "has previously held" in a sentence?

You can use "has previously held" to indicate that someone has occupied a position or role in the past, for example: "She "has previously held" the position of CEO at a major corporation".

What can I say instead of "has previously held"?

You can use alternatives like "formerly held", "previously occupied", or "once held depending on the context.

Which is correct, "has previously held" or "had previously held"?

"Has previously held" is generally used to describe a past position in relation to the present, while "had previously held" is used to describe a past position in relation to another point in the past. Choose the tense based on the context of your sentence.

What's the difference between "has previously held" and "having previously held"?

"Has previously held" is a present perfect tense, indicating a completed action with relevance to the present. "Having previously held" is a participial phrase, often used to introduce a clause explaining someone's qualifications or experience.