past work

USAGE SUMMARY

'past work' is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to work that has already been done, for example, "We would like to use our past work as a reference for the new project."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Past work by Mx.

The New York Times - Arts

Analysis of his past work.

The New Yorker

Tells about some of his past work in opera.

The New Yorker

Then again, I may be factoring in her past work.

The New York Times

The worst free-agent contracts are rewards for past work.

The New York Times - Sports

"In the past work experience was a 'nice to have'.

The Guardian

I looked at his past work and felt OK.

The Guardian - Film

Not much is known about Ms. Lowery's past work experience.

The New York Times

Mr. Viñoly's past work has often felt cold and inhuman.

The New York Times - Arts

"Look at his past work and it's clever stuff.

The New York Times

His past work has involved tracking combat deaths in Syria.

University of California, Berkeley

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing an individual's or team's qualifications, referring to their "past work" can effectively showcase their experience and capabilities. Be specific about the nature and outcomes of the work.

Common error

Avoid simply stating "their past work was excellent" without providing context or examples. Always elaborate on the specific skills and accomplishments demonstrated in their "past work".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "past work" functions primarily as a noun phrase, often acting as the object of a verb or the complement of a preposition. Ludwig examples show it being used to describe someone's previous experience or accomplishments.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

25%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Wiki

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "past work" is a commonly used and grammatically correct phrase that serves to reference prior experience or accomplishments. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it appears frequently across various domains, including news, science, and academia. While alternatives like "previous work" and "former work" exist, "past work" remains a versatile and widely understood term. When using this phrase, ensure you provide specific details to avoid vagueness and to effectively showcase the relevant skills and achievements.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

previous work

Replaces "past" with "previous", indicating work done earlier.

former work

Uses "former" to denote work from a previous time.

prior work

Employs "prior" to specify work completed before the current time.

earlier projects

Refers to completed projects from an earlier period.

previous engagements

Emphasizes commitments or involvements from the past.

historical contributions

Highlights contributions made in the past.

track record

Focuses on the record of achievements and accomplishments.

work history

Describes the sequence of jobs or projects done in the past.

completed tasks

Emphasizes the completion of specific tasks previously.

past accomplishments

Focuses on achievements attained in the past.

FAQs

How can I use "past work" in a sentence?

You can use "past work" to refer to previous experience, such as "The committee will review your "past work" to assess your suitability for the role."

What are some alternatives to using "past work"?

Depending on the context, alternatives to "past work" include "previous work", "former work", or "prior experience".

Is it better to say "past work" or "previous work"?

Both "past work" and "previous work" are acceptable and often interchangeable. The choice depends on personal preference and the specific context.

What is the difference between "past work" and "work history"?

"Past work" typically refers to specific projects or accomplishments, while "work history" generally describes the chronological sequence of jobs held.