once worked

USAGE SUMMARY

"once worked" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is typically used to describe a past action or experience. Example: "He once worked as a teacher in Japan." This sentence means that at some point in the past, the person had a job as a teacher in Japan. Another example: "She once worked at a restaurant, but now she is an accountant." This sentence implies that in the past, the person had a job at a restaurant, but now they have a different job as an accountant.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

She once worked as a screenwriter".

The New York Times - Arts

The islands were once worked for guano.

Encyclopedia Britannica

That you once worked with David Walliams?

Independent

You once worked at a steel mill.

The New York Times - Arts

He once worked as a nightclub bouncer.

The Economist

He once worked in Jimmy Carter's NSC.

The Economist

Once worked in Jets' front office.

The New York Times - Sports

(His two younger sisters once worked there).

The New York Times

That's the way it once worked.

The Guardian - Opinion

Mr. Large once worked for the company.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

McGregor once worked as a trainee plumber.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing someone's background, "once worked" provides a concise way to highlight relevant past experiences, adding depth to their profile.

Common error

Avoid using "once worked" when referring to an ongoing job; stick to present tense. "Once worked" implies a concluded role.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "once worked" functions as a past tense verb phrase, indicating previous employment or engagement in a specific role or activity. It signifies that the action of working occurred at some point in the past but is no longer ongoing. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is commonly used in written English to describe past actions.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

77%

Encyclopedias

3%

Science

1%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "once worked" is a versatile tool for expressing past employment or engagement in a role, action or activity. As Ludwig AI underlines, this expression is grammatically correct. It’s most frequently found in news media. When aiming for increased formality, consider phrases like "previously employed" or "formerly worked". To ensure accurate use, be mindful of the completed nature of the work, avoiding its application to ongoing roles. The phrase's neutral register allows for its use across diverse writing contexts, providing an effective means of quickly conveying past experience.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

previously employed

Emphasizes the temporal aspect, indicating employment at an earlier time.

formerly worked

Similar to 'previously employed', highlighting the past nature of the work.

was once employed

Passive voice emphasizing the state of being employed in the past.

previous occupation

Highlights an employment of a person in the past.

used to work

Indicates a habitual action or state in the past, now discontinued.

at one time worked

Stresses that the work occurred during a specific period in the past.

had a job

A simpler way of saying someone worked somewhere, but it doesn't convey the same sense of a past connection.

past employment

Focuses on describing a previous job held.

earlier career

Highlights an occupation from a person's past.

historical role

More formal, suggesting the significance of a past position.

FAQs

How can I use "once worked" in a sentence?

You can use "once worked" to describe a previous job or role. For example, "She "once worked" as a journalist, but now she is a novelist."

What's a formal way to say "once worked"?

Formal alternatives to "once worked" include "previously employed" or "formerly worked". These phrases add a touch of professionalism, especially in resumes or official documents.

Is it correct to say "once worked at" or "once worked in"?

Both "once worked at" and "once worked in" are correct, but they have slightly different connotations. "Once worked at" is typically used for specific locations or companies, while "once worked in" is used for fields or industries.

What's the difference between "used to work" and "once worked"?

"Used to work" implies a habitual action or state in the past that is now discontinued, while "once worked" simply indicates that someone had a job or role at some point in the past. "I "used to work" there" suggests I worked there regularly for a period of time. "I "once worked" there" simply says I worked there at some point.