once employed by

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "once employed by" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a person or entity that previously worked for a specific organization or individual. Example: "She was once employed by a prestigious law firm before starting her own practice."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

42 human-written examples

All were once employed by the big multinationals whose commercials and "idents" bankroll commercial television.

The Guardian

A theory holds that these terms were once employed by pre-Christian fertility cults.

The New Yorker

14,000 – the number of people once employed by Thyssen in Oberhausen, Germany's biggest steel company.

The Guardian

Dadoun was once employed by well-respected Nortel Networks, a major Canadian telco, as senior manager of mergers and acquisitions.

The Guardian

Mr. Page was once employed by Merrill Lynch's Moscow office, where he worked with Gazprom, a government-owned energy giant.

The New York Times

A Canadian contractor once employed by the company is jailed in Mexico in connection with that plot.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

18 human-written examples

The ready-made clothing business, which once employed many Bangladeshis, was slaughtered by cheaper factories in Romania, Bulgaria and Morocco.

The Guardian

It was intended to revive the site of the defunctBoeing Co.aircraft manufacturing plant, built by Douglas Aircraft Co., which once employed about 50,000 people.

Los Angeles Times

It was intended to revive the site of the defunct Boeing Co. aircraft manufacturing plant, built by Douglas Aircraft Co., which once employed about 50,000 people.

Los Angeles Times

One side is lined by a steel barricade once employed on the U.S.-Mexico border.

Los Angeles Times

The book was written by David Rocasolano, a cousin of the princess whom she once employed as a lawyer.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "once employed by", ensure the context clearly indicates that the employment is no longer current. This avoids ambiguity and provides clarity about the individual's present status.

Common error

Avoid using "once employed by" when referring to a current employment situation. This phrase indicates a past relationship, so using it in the present tense can cause confusion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "once employed by" functions as an adjectival phrase that modifies a noun, typically a person's name or a pronoun. It provides additional information about their past work history. Ludwig AI shows that the phrase is often used to provide context about an individual's background or experience.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

79%

Wiki

8%

Science

6%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "once employed by" is a common and grammatically sound way to describe a past employment relationship. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's widely used in news and media to provide background information or context about individuals. While the phrase is versatile, it's important to ensure that its use aligns with the past tense to avoid confusion. For alternative phrasing, options like "formerly employed by" or "previously employed by" can offer similar meanings with slight variations in emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

formerly employed by

Replaces "once" with "formerly", indicating a previous employment.

previously employed by

Substitutes "once" with "previously", emphasizing the past nature of the employment.

used to be employed by

Employs "used to be" to express a past state of employment.

was an employee of

Changes the structure to focus on the individual's status as an employee in the past.

worked for

Simplifies the phrase to a more common expression of employment.

was on the staff of

Indicates past employment, often implying a professional or official role.

held a position at

Refers to a specific job or role held at an organization in the past.

was associated with

Suggests a past connection with an organization, which could include employment.

had a career with

Implies a longer period of employment with an organization.

is an alumnus of

This option should be used if talking about schools or educational institutions.

FAQs

How do I use "once employed by" in a sentence?

Use "once employed by" to describe someone's previous employer. For example, "She was once employed by a large corporation, but now runs her own business."

What's a good alternative to "once employed by"?

Alternatives include "formerly employed by", "previously employed by", or simply "worked for", depending on the desired level of formality.

Is it correct to say "is once employed by"?

No, "is once employed by" is grammatically incorrect. The phrase "once employed by" indicates a past condition, so it should be used with a past tense verb, such as "was" or "were".

What is the difference between "once employed by" and "currently employed by"?

"Once employed by" refers to a past employment relationship, while "currently employed by" indicates that someone is presently working for an organization. They describe opposite temporal states.