he was working for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "he was working for" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate the organization or individual that someone is employed by or providing services to. Example: "He was working for a well-known tech company before he decided to start his own business."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

He was working for me," he insisted.

Independent

Coulibaly said he was working for Isis.

Independent

He was working for a hospital.

The New York Times

By eight, he was working for his father after school.

The New Yorker

And he was working for an enormous company.

The New York Times

It was unclear which media organisation he was working for.

Independent

Clearly he was working for his prisoner's release.

The New York Times - Books

However, the airline he was working for went bust.

The Guardian - Music

Honestly, I wondered what police department he was working for".

The New York Times

He was working for Kindlund & Drake, naval architects.

The New York Times

Within a week he was working for 65 councils.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When specifying the duration of employment, follow "he was working for" with a timeframe. For example, "He was working for the company for five years."

Common error

Avoid using other prepositions in place of "for" when indicating employment. "He was working at" typically refers to a location, not the employer. So, it's correct to say, "He was working for Google", not "He was working at Google" unless you mean he was physically present at their location for a different purpose.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "he was working for" functions as a verbal phrase indicating a state of employment or service. It specifies the entity or individual for whom someone is performing work. Ludwig AI shows numerous examples of its use in diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

57%

Formal & Business

22%

Wiki

7%

Less common in

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "he was working for" is a common and grammatically correct way to express employment or service to an entity. Ludwig AI confirms its widespread usage across various contexts, primarily in news and media, as well as formal business settings. While versatile, it's important to use the preposition "for" accurately and consider alternative phrasings like "he was employed by" for more formal situations or when emphasizing the employment relationship. This phrase effectively communicates someone's affiliation with an organization or individual in a clear and concise manner.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

he did work for

A simpler and more direct way of stating the employment relationship, suitable for informal contexts.

he had a job with

Replaces the verb "working" with "had a job", slightly changing the focus from the action to the state of employment.

he was employed by

Substitutes "working for" with the more formal "employed by", which emphasizes a formal employment relationship.

his employer was

Rephrases the sentence to focus on the employer rather than the employee's action, shifting the emphasis.

he served under

Indicates a hierarchical relationship, suggesting he was working in a subordinate role.

he was in the service of

Implies a dedicated or official role, typically used for organizations or figures of authority.

he was on the payroll of

Focuses on the financial aspect of employment, emphasizing that he was being paid by the entity.

he was contracted to

Suggests a contractual agreement for specific services, rather than traditional employment.

he freelanced for

Indicates a freelance or temporary work arrangement, differing from a permanent position.

he labored for

Emphasizes the effort and work done for the entity, adding a sense of exertion or dedication.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "he was working for" to sound more formal?

To sound more formal, you can replace "he was working for" with phrases like "he was employed by" or "he served under", depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "he was working at" instead of "he was working for"?

While "he was working at" is grammatically correct, it generally refers to the location where he was working, not the entity he was employed by. Use "he was working for" to indicate the employer.

What's the difference between saying "he was working for" and "he did work for"?

The phrase "he was working for" is a straightforward statement of employment. "He did work for" emphasizes the fact that he indeed performed work for that entity, often used to confirm or clarify.

Can I use "he was contracted to" instead of "he was working for"?

Yes, but the meaning changes slightly. "He was working for" implies general employment, while "he was contracted to" suggests a specific, contractual agreement for services, such as when "he was freelancing for" a company.