hired by

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "hired by" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it when there is a transfer of ownership from one individual or group to another, usually in exchange for money. For example: "She was hired by a local restaurant as the new head chef."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

One was hired by a doctor friend.

The New Yorker

They had been hired by landlords.

The New Yorker

Hired by a major producer in….

The New Yorker

Algorithms have hired by voice inflection.

Independent

It had also been hired by Abdeslam.

Independent

HE was hired by Andy Warhol.

The New York Times

(She was then hired by CNN).

The New Yorker

He was hired by them".

The New York Times

He had been hired by Yaroslavl last May.

The New Yorker

He was hired by American Heritage in 1956.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

(Spool was later acqui-hired by Facebook).

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "hired by", ensure the subject is the person or entity doing the hiring, and the object is the person being hired. This clarifies the relationship and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "hired by" when you intend to say someone 'hired' someone else directly. "Hired by" indicates the passive voice; use the active voice when the subject is the one doing the hiring to avoid awkward phrasing.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "hired by" is to form the passive voice, indicating that the subject of the sentence received the action of being hired, rather than performing the action. As Ludwig AI explains, it’s a common and accepted way to express employment relationships.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Academia

16%

Science

6%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "hired by" is a grammatically sound and frequently used construction in English, primarily functioning to create the passive voice. It’s a clear and direct way to indicate that someone or something was employed by a specific entity. As Ludwig AI confirms, its grammatical status is correct. The phrase appears most commonly in news and media, but is suitable for academic or professional contexts as well. When employing "hired by", ensure that the sentence structure reflects the passive voice, with the subject being the one receiving the action of being hired.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

employed by

Replaces "hired" with a more formal synonym, emphasizing the state of being employed.

recruited by

Focuses on the process of actively seeking and selecting someone for a position.

selected by

Highlights the choice made among multiple candidates.

contracted by

Highlights a formal agreement for services, often for a specific project or duration.

engaged by

Focuses on the act of securing someone's services or expertise.

appointed by

Suggests a formal assignment or designation to a role, often by an authority.

brought on board by

Idiomatic expression emphasizing the act of welcoming someone to a team.

taken on by

Emphasizes the act of accepting someone into an organization or team.

retained by

Highlights a continued professional relationship, often in legal or consulting contexts.

enlisted by

Implies being engaged for a specific purpose or campaign, often with a sense of duty.

FAQs

How do I use "hired by" in a sentence?

"Hired by" is used in the passive voice to indicate who employed someone. For example, "She was hired by Google as a software engineer" shows that Google employed her.

What's the difference between "hired by" and "hired"?

"Hired by" indicates passive voice, showing who did the hiring (e.g., "He was hired by the company"). "Hired" indicates active voice, with the subject doing the hiring (e.g., "The company hired him").

What can I say instead of "hired by"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "employed by", "recruited by", or "contracted by".

Is it grammatically correct to say "I was hired by"?

Yes, "I was hired by" is grammatically correct. It's a passive construction indicating that someone else employed you. For example, "I was hired by a tech startup last year".