he worked for

USAGE SUMMARY

"he worked for" is a perfectly correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to describe a situation where someone has been employed by a particular company for a length of time. For example: "He had been working for the company for five years, until he was let go."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

He worked for Pres.

The New Yorker

He worked for the state.

The New Yorker

He worked for several minutes.

The New Yorker

He Worked for Obama.

The New York Times

He worked for us.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

He worked for the Chinese state press.

The New Yorker

Of course, he worked for Dungy.

The New York Times - Sports

I asked Rodríguez whom he worked for.

The New Yorker

Rufus: "He worked for the government before".

The New Yorker

Once there, he worked for IBM.

The Economist

He worked for the city.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing someone's past employment, use "he worked for" followed by the name of the company or organization. Be specific to provide context about the person's professional background.

Common error

Ensure clarity by specifying the time frame when using "he worked for". Without a time frame, it's unclear whether the employment is current or past. For instance, instead of just saying "He worked for the company", specify "He worked for the company from 2010 to 2015".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "he worked for" functions as a verb phrase indicating past employment or affiliation with a specific entity. As Ludwig AI confirms, it describes a past professional relationship.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "he worked for" is a common and grammatically sound way to describe someone's past employment, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. It is primarily used in news and media contexts to provide background information or professional history. When using this phrase, ensure clarity by specifying the time frame and avoiding ambiguity. Alternative phrases such as "he was employed by" or "he served under" can be used depending on the specific context. Ludwig's examples illustrate its versatility in describing various professional affiliations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

he was employed by

Emphasizes the formal employment relationship between the individual and the entity.

he was an employee of

Formally states the employment status of the individual.

he served under

Suggests a hierarchical relationship, often in military or governmental contexts.

he was on the staff of

Implies a position within a particular organization or institution.

he contracted with

Indicates a contractual agreement for specific services.

he reported to

Highlights the reporting structure within an organization.

he was affiliated with

Suggests a connection or association, not necessarily direct employment.

he was a member of

Indicates belonging to a team or group working under someone.

he collaborated with

Emphasizes a cooperative working relationship, often on specific projects.

he assisted

Focuses on providing help or support without necessarily implying employment.

FAQs

How do I use "he worked for" in a sentence?

Use "he worked for" to indicate past employment. For example, "He worked for The New York Times for many years".

What can I say instead of "he worked for"?

You can use alternatives like "he was employed by", "he served under", or "he was an employee of" depending on the context.

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

The correctness depends on the time frame. "He works for" indicates current employment, while "he worked for" indicates past employment.

What's the difference between "he worked for" and "he volunteered for"?

"He worked for" implies paid employment, whereas "he volunteered for" implies unpaid service. The former suggests a professional relationship, while the latter suggests a charitable or community-based role.