having previously served as

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "having previously served as" is correct and commonly used in written English.
It is typically used to provide information about someone's past experience or qualifications. You can use it when describing someone's previous job or role, or when mentioning a past achievement or accomplishment. Example: "John was hired as the new CEO, having previously served as a senior executive at a leading tech company."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

He took over the Cooper-Hewitt in March 2001, having previously served as director of the Design Museum in London.

The New York Times

Walter Massey is chancellor of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago SAICC), having previously served as its president.

Harvard University

He joined Yale in 1995 as an assistant professor, having previously served as a faculty member at Princeton University.

Yale University

Dirk joined Yale in 1995 as an assistant professor, having previously served as a faculty member at Princeton University.

Yale University

But Ms. White also had a law enforcement background, having previously served as the United States attorney in Manhattan.

The New York Times

He has held the top position since 2009, having previously served as executive vice-president and general manager of SeaWorld Orlando from 2003 to 2007.

The Guardian - Business

Dean also has extensive experience in the gaming sector, having previously served as Co-Head and a founding member of the Gaming, Lodging, and Leisure Group at CIBC.

The New York Times

Carswell had been Conservative MP for Clacton since 2010, having previously served as MP for Harwich from 2005-10 boundaryoundary changes.

The Guardian

Lisa Boudreau was named HMS dean for alumni affairs and development in January 2017, having previously served as interim dean beginning in August 2015.

Harvard University

He was 85. Mason joined the faculty of the Nuclear Engineering Department at its formation in 1957, having previously served as an Assistant Professor of Chemical Engineering.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

By 1916, he was serving on the Kentucky Court of Appeals the state's highest court having previously served as a county judge and circuit court judge.

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "having previously served as", ensure the subsequent information about their current role or position is clearly linked and understandable. It helps maintain the flow of information.

Common error

Avoid placing "having previously served as" too far from the subject it modifies. This can lead to confusion about who held the previous position. Keep the phrase close to the noun or pronoun it describes.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "having previously served as" functions as a participial phrase, modifying a noun or pronoun to provide context about their past roles. As Ludwig AI confirms, this structure effectively adds information about prior experience. It's widely used in formal writing to establish credibility or background, demonstrated by Ludwig's numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

37%

Academia

32%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "having previously served as" is a grammatically sound and frequently used participial phrase. It's deployed to provide contextual background about an individual's prior roles, most commonly found in news, academic, and scientific publications, fitting for neutral to formal writing. As Ludwig AI states, it's a correct and effective way to introduce someone's credentials or experience. Alternatives like "formerly held the position of" or "previously worked as" exist, but the key is maintaining clarity and proper placement to avoid misinterpretation. The analysis from Ludwig underscores the phrase's value in establishing credibility and offering relevant context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had previously been

Uses the past perfect to emphasize the completion of the prior role before the current one.

formerly held the position of

Replaces the participle construction with a more direct past tense.

prior to this role, was

Explicitly states the temporal relationship between roles.

previously worked as

Substitutes "served" with "worked" for a less formal tone.

was previously employed as

Uses a passive construction to emphasize the state of being employed.

once served as

Highlights that the service occurred at some point in the past, without specifying recency.

served as in the past

Reiterates that the service is in the past, useful for emphasis.

beforehand, was a

Breaks the phrase into two parts to vary sentence structure.

earlier in their career, was

Adds extra temporal element, talking about the start of their career.

comes from a background as

Shifts the focus to the individual's background rather than the direct experience.

FAQs

How to use "having previously served as" in a sentence?

Use "having previously served as" to introduce someone's prior role before their current position. For example: "She was appointed CEO, "having previously served as" CFO."

What can I say instead of "having previously served as"?

Alternatives include "formerly held the position of", "previously worked as", or "had previously been". The best choice depends on the specific context and desired level of formality.

Which is correct, "having previously served as" or "previously serving as"?

"Having previously served as" is grammatically correct. "Previously serving as" is less common and may sound awkward to some readers. The 'having' emphasizes the completed action.

What's the difference between "having previously served as" and "before that, was"?

"Having previously served as" is a concise way to state prior experience. "Before that, was" /s/beforehand+was breaks the information into two parts, which can be useful for emphasizing the sequence of events but is usually longer. For example "He was the CEO, "having previously served as" CFO" and "He was the CEO. "Beforehand, was" CFO".