he previously served as

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "he previously served as" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to someone's past position or role in an organization or context. Example: "Before joining this company, he previously served as the director of marketing at a leading firm."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

He previously served as governor of that state (2005 10).

Encyclopedia Britannica

He previously served as governor of the state (2003 11).

Encyclopedia Britannica

He previously served as British ambassador in Yemen.

The Guardian

He previously served as general manager of the Astros and the Yankees.

The New York Times - Sports

He previously served as president of the transportation unit and was executive vice president for operations.

The New York Times

He previously served as the national manager of the intelligence branch of the Australian Crime Commission.

The Guardian

He previously served as chief financial officer from 1989 to 1990.

The New York Times

He previously served as the Federal Public Defender for the Eastern District of New York.

The New York Times

He previously served as president of Michigan State University and the University of Connecticut.

The New York Times

He previously served as a judge, appellate magistrate and law professor.

The New York Times

He previously served as foreign minister and deputy prime minister of Jordan.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "he previously served as", ensure that the context clearly indicates the time frame and the scope of the previous role. This helps avoid ambiguity and provides a clear understanding of the individual's background.

Common error

Avoid using "he previously serves as" because the verb "served" must be in the past tense to accurately reflect a role that has already been held. Using the present tense would imply the role is still ongoing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "he previously served as" functions as a descriptive element within a sentence, providing information about someone's past employment or role. Ludwig AI confirms the grammatical correctness of the phrase.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

57%

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

1%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "he previously served as" is a grammatically sound and common way to describe someone's past role or position. Ludwig confirms its correctness and widespread usage across various reliable sources. Its purpose is to provide background information and establish credibility. While suitable for neutral to professional contexts, it is most frequently found in news and media. Remember to use the past tense "served" and ensure the context clearly defines the scope and timeframe of the prior role.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

he formerly held the position of

Replaces "served as" with a more formal phrase indicating a past position.

he was formerly employed as

Substitutes "served as" with "employed as", emphasizing past employment.

he used to be the

Uses a simpler, more informal phrasing to indicate a past role.

prior to this, he was

Indicates a previous role before the current one, without specifying the type of service.

he has previously worked as

Emphasizes past work experience in a specific role.

his previous role was

Focuses on the role itself, rather than the action of serving.

before, he acted as

Uses "acted as" to describe a past function or responsibility.

he once held the job of

Indicates that the person occupied a certain position in the past.

he had a previous tenure as

Highlights the term or period of time someone served in a particular role.

he functioned as

Replaces "served as" with "functioned as", focusing on past duties or functions.

FAQs

What are some alternatives to "he previously served as"?

You can use alternatives like "he formerly held the position of", "he was formerly employed as", or "he used to be the" depending on the context and level of formality.

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

You can use it to describe someone's past role or position, for example, "Before becoming CEO, "he previously served as" the Chief Financial Officer."

Is it correct to say "he previously serves as" instead of "he previously served as"?

No, "he previously serves as" is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is ""he previously served as"", using the past tense verb "served" to indicate a past role.

What's the difference between "he previously served as" and "he currently serves as"?

"He previously served as" indicates a past role, while "he currently serves as" indicates the present role. The tense of the verb is essential to the sentence's meaning.