held tenure

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "held tenure" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used in academic or professional contexts to refer to someone who has been granted a permanent position, often in a university or similar institution. Example: "After years of hard work and dedication, she finally held tenure at the university, allowing her to focus on her research without the pressure of contract renewals."

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

No club, in fact, has held tenure for very long over the striker, who was born in France but now is a Senegalese national team striker.

The New York Times - Sports

Never mind that he'd published collections with major presses, or that he'd won a Guggenheim and the Iowa Poetry Prize, or that he'd held tenure at Emerson College, where he taught for more than twenty-five years.

The New Yorker

Among full-time professors on campuses nationwide, 52percentnt held tenure in 1995, the same proportion as in 1975.

Science Magazine

Richmond also will be paid 1 year of salary because he held tenure at the museum, a status that provides for "a one year terminal appointment".

Science Magazine

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

Since then, I have held tenure-track faculty positions at both Rose-Hulman Indianate of Technology in Indiand and Rowan University in New Jersey.

Science Magazine

Among scientists who earned American Ph.D.s between 1997 and 2001, 31% of the ex-postdocs, and 25% of those without postdoc experience, held tenure-track jobs at institutions offering at least a 4-year degree in 2006.

Science Magazine

Cech noted that he, himself, has mentored 35 postdocs, 20 of whom hold tenure or tenure-track posts at research universities.

Science Magazine

In 1995, a management plan was prepared by CALM (now known as the Department of Environment and Conservation) for the Lands and Forest Commission who hold tenure over the State Forests which form the Woodland.

Wikipedia

While Asian Americans represented 23percentt of those holding tenure-track positions, they were only 12percentt of those at the tenure or senior scientist level.

Science Magazine

The number of postdocs studying in science and engineering (S&E) fields at U.S. degree-granting institutions grew 18.6%, from 36,158 to 42,889, between 1994 and 2001, respectively.1 Over the same interval the number of S&E doctorates holding tenure-track positions increased 6.1% (from 36,830 to 39,080).

Science Magazine

The A.P.A. Committee on the Status of Black Philosophers and the Society of Young Black Philosophers reports that currently in the United States there are 156 blacks in philosophy, including doctoral students and philosophy Ph.D.'s in academic positions; this includes a total of 55 black women, 31 of whom hold tenured or tenure-track positions.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing academic careers, use "held tenure" to clearly indicate a professor's permanent position and academic freedom. This phrase is most appropriate in formal or professional contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "held tenure" loosely to mean simply "worked at a university". Tenure implies a specific type of permanent position, not just any employment. Ensure the context accurately reflects the meaning of tenure.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "held tenure" functions as a verb phrase + noun indicating the past state of possessing a permanent position, typically in academia. Ludwig examples and Ludwig AI confirm its standard usage.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

30%

Academia

30%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "held tenure" is a grammatically correct and relatively common expression, predominantly used in academic and professional circles. As verified by Ludwig AI, it specifically signifies that someone previously possessed a permanent, protected position, usually within a university setting. Key alternatives include "secured tenure" and "obtained tenure". When using this phrase, ensure that the context accurately reflects the specific meaning of tenure, as it implies more than just general employment at a university. It carries connotations of job security and academic freedom. Usage is more frequent in scientific, news and media, and academic sources.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

secured tenure

Focuses on the action of obtaining tenure, highlighting the achievement.

obtained tenure

Similar to 'secured tenure', but emphasizes the act of receiving tenure.

possessed tenure

Emphasizes the state of having tenure, rather than the process of acquiring it.

maintained tenure

Suggests the act of keeping or upholding tenure over a period of time.

enjoyed tenure

Adds a sense of benefit or privilege associated with having tenure.

was tenured

Passive voice construction emphasizing the state of being granted tenure.

achieved tenure

Highlights the accomplishment of gaining tenure through effort and dedication.

retained tenure

Indicates that tenure was kept or not lost, often after a review or challenge.

had tenure

Simple past tense indicating a previous state of holding tenure.

served with tenure

Emphasizes the period of service or employment while holding tenure.

FAQs

What does it mean to say someone "held tenure"?

Saying someone "held tenure" means they had a permanent position at an academic institution, usually implying job security and academic freedom.

What are some alternatives to saying someone "held tenure"?

You could say they "secured tenure", "obtained tenure", or "possessed tenure", depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "hold tenure" or "held tenure"?

"Hold tenure" is present tense, while "held tenure" is past tense. Use "held" when referring to a past situation or describing someone's past status. You can use "hold tenure" to describe that state/status in general.

What is the difference between "tenure-track" and "held tenure"?

"Tenure-track" describes a position that could lead to tenure, while "held tenure" indicates that someone has already achieved that permanent status. One is a path, the other is a destination.