he worked as

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "he worked as" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate what job or occupation someone had or what activity someone was doing. For example: "Throughout the summer, he worked as a lifeguard at the local pool."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

He worked as a lens maker.

The New York Times - Magazine

He worked as a personal trainer.

The New York Times

Then he worked as a welder.

The New Yorker

He worked as a trade union official.

Independent

He worked as a bartender.

The Washington Post

He worked as a consultant.

The New York Times

He worked as a bricklayer.

The Guardian

He worked as an extra.

The New York Times

He worked as a tailor.

The Guardian

Perhaps he worked as a farrier.

The Guardian - Books

He worked as a community organizer.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing past employment, ensure the tense is consistent. For example, if you start with "he worked as a teacher", subsequent descriptions of his responsibilities should also be in the past tense.

Common error

Avoid using incorrect prepositions after "worked". It's correct to say "he worked as a chef" not "he worked like a chef" unless you're making a comparison.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "he worked as" functions as a verb phrase introducing a description of someone's occupation, role, or activity. It specifies the nature of their employment or past work experience, as confirmed by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Unknown/unmatched sources

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "he worked as" is a grammatically sound and widely used expression for describing someone's occupation or role, according to Ludwig AI. Appearing most frequently in "News & Media", "Science", and Encyclopedic contexts, it maintains a neutral register suitable for diverse communication purposes. Although interchangeable with alternatives such as "he was employed as" or "he served as", writers should remain aware of appropriate tense usage and preposition choice. Ludwig confirms the phrase's reliable utility in professional and casual scenarios alike.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

he was employed as

Uses a more formal verb to indicate employment.

he served as

Emphasizes a role or duty fulfilled.

his job was

Focuses on the job itself rather than the person.

he functioned as

Highlights the function or purpose of the role.

he held the position of

More formal, emphasizing the position's title.

he acted as

Suggests a temporary or informal role.

he was a

Simplest form, stating the profession directly.

he used to work as

Indicates a past occupation.

his previous role was

Emphasizes a prior role in a career.

he has experience as

Highlights someone's experience in a particular field.

FAQs

How can I use "he worked as" in a sentence?

Use "he worked as" to describe someone's past occupation or role. For example, "During the summer, "he worked as" a lifeguard".

What are some alternatives to "he worked as"?

Alternatives include phrases like "he was employed as", "he served as", or "his job was", depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "he works as" instead of "he worked as"?

Yes, "he works as" is correct when describing someone's current occupation. "He worked as" refers to a past occupation.

What's the difference between "he worked as" and "he acted as"?

"He worked as" typically refers to a formal or regular job, while "he acted as" suggests a more temporary or informal role.