i held a position

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "I held a position" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to a job or other role that you once held. For example: "Before I became a stay-at-home parent, I held a position as an executive assistant at a small software company."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Formal & Business

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

At the time, I held a position of responsibility at the Washington Post.

The New Yorker

Among the mayors, a rich family descended from Pippin of Landen (Pippin I) held a position of especial importance.

Encyclopedia Britannica

I held a position as Coordinator of Initiatives and was an Elementary School Principal.

Huffington Post

And while I have deep respect for people on both sides of this conversation, I would be abandoning my own conscience and judgment if I held a position that I no longer believed appropriate.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

While I hold a position, I breathe in the heady fragrance of lilies – a welcome change to the waft of sandalwood joss sticks at many retreats.

The Guardian - Travel

I hold a position (archivist) on the National Society of Newspaper Columnists board that also begins with "A".

Huffington Post

In 2010, two doctors at St. Michael's Hospital, a teaching hospital affiliated with the University of Toronto's medical school (and where I hold a position), started voicing concerns about pharmaceutical industry involvement in a pain-management course that was part of U of T's med school curriculum.

Vice

Following World War I, Mashbir held a position teaching military science and tactics at Syracuse University, where he first considered studying the Japanese language and culture.

Wikipedia

For the past two years, I have held a position of middling seniority in the public health team of a local council.

The Guardian - Money

I held a political position, I did not participate in any of the crimes that were raised against me personally," he said.

The Guardian

I held a higher position on the rung of movie-crew hierarchy, but Tim and I were within the same somewhat low-ranking realm.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing past experiences in a resume or cover letter, use "i held a position" to clearly state that you previously occupied a specific role or job.

Common error

Avoid switching to present tense when elaborating on the responsibilities associated with a position you previously held. Maintain the past tense for consistency: "I held a position as project manager, where I was responsible for overseeing multiple projects."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "i held a position" functions as a statement of past employment or affiliation. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness, making it suitable for resumes, professional summaries, and narrative descriptions of career history.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

30%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Science

10%

Wiki

10%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "i held a position" is a grammatically sound and commonly used way to describe past employment or roles, as confirmed by Ludwig. It serves to inform about previous experience and is suitable for a neutral to professional register. While alternatives like "i used to hold a position" exist, the original phrase effectively conveys the intended meaning. It's important to maintain tense consistency when elaborating on the responsibilities associated with the position.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

i used to hold a position

Emphasizes the past habitual nature of holding the position.

i once occupied a role

Uses a more formal vocabulary to describe a past job.

i previously served as

Indicates a formal or official capacity in a prior role.

i was formerly employed as

Focuses on the employment aspect of holding a position.

i had a position in the past

Adds slight emphasis on the past nature of the position.

i used to work as a

Simplifies the phrase to describe past employment.

i functioned as

Highlights the actions and duties performed in the past position.

my past role involved

Shifts the focus to the responsibilities of a past role.

i had a prior job as

Replaces "position" with the more common term "job".

i used to be in a role

Focuses on the status or function within an organization.

FAQs

How can I use "i held a position" in a sentence?

Use "i held a position" to indicate that you previously occupied a specific job or role, for example, "I held a position as a software engineer at Google".

What can I say instead of "i held a position"?

You can use alternatives like "i used to hold a position", "i previously served as", or "i was formerly employed as" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "i held a position" or "i had a position"?

"I held a position" typically implies a formal or official role, while "i had a position" can be more general. The best choice depends on the specific context you wish to convey.

What's the difference between "i held a position" and "i occupied a position"?

"I held a position" is more common and generally implies fulfilling the duties of a role. "I occupied a position", "i once occupied a role" is a slightly more formal way of expressing the same idea.