previous company

USAGE SUMMARY

"previous company" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when referring to either a company someone previously worked for or a company that is now defunct. For example, "Joe had worked at the previous company for five years before it went out of business."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

My previous company had frozen pay rises since 2008.

The Guardian - Money

At my previous company, practice was viewed as an afterthought.

The New York Times

The leaders at his previous company had managed him for productivity, not creativity.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Plumen's success is because of the failure of my previous company".

The Guardian

Group operating profit was £8.6m, well down on the £18.7m in the previous company filing.

The Guardian

He will provide the initial financing from money he made from Celera and a previous company.

The New York Times

Their previous company, called Organovo, designed and produced human tissues, primarily for medical research.

The Guardian

Mr. Dixon sold one previous company, SiteAdvisor, to McAfee and another, Hunch, to eBay.

The New York Times

His first call was to Jane's former direct supervisor, the COO of her previous company.

Harvard Business Review

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

Previous companies profiled: Apple, Intel, Facebook, and Genentech -- to name a few.

Stanford University

In previous companies, he achieved several industry firsts by developing unique networking and distributed computing products.

Stanford University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing your "previous company", be professional and focus on the skills and experiences you gained, rather than dwelling on negative aspects.

Common error

Avoid assuming your audience knows details about your "previous company". Provide necessary context, especially if it's not a well-known organization.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "previous company" functions as a noun phrase, typically used as an adjective to modify another noun or pronoun. It indicates a company that existed or was associated with someone in the past. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

61%

Academia

14%

Formal & Business

14%

Less common in

Science

6%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "previous company" is a grammatically sound and frequently used term to refer to a company from someone's past. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is valid and useful. Its usage spans diverse contexts, including news, academia, and professional communications. When using "previous company", it's advisable to provide enough context and maintain a professional tone, especially in interviews or formal documents. Alternatives such as "former company" or "prior employer" can be considered based on the specific context. The high frequency and consistent application of "previous company" across reputable sources confirm its widespread acceptance and utility.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

former company

Replaces "previous" with "former", indicating a company from the past.

previous employer

Combines both "previous" and "employer", making the phrase specific.

prior company

Uses "prior" instead of "previous", suggesting a company from an earlier time.

earlier company

Highlights the temporal aspect, indicating a company from an earlier period.

past employer

Focuses on the employment aspect, specifying the company as an employer.

the company I previously worked at

Similar meaning, but explicitly mentions the action of working at the company.

the company I used to work for

A more descriptive and less formal alternative.

my former place of employment

A more formal and detailed way to describe a "previous company".

old company

A more informal way to refer to a "previous company".

the business I was formerly with

Emphasizes the business aspect and the past association.

FAQs

How can I use "previous company" in a sentence?

You can use "previous company" to refer to a company where you were employed in the past, such as "At my "previous company", I developed strong leadership skills".

What's a more formal alternative to "previous company"?

A more formal alternative would be "former employer" or "prior company", which are suitable for professional settings.

Is it correct to say "my last company" instead of "previous company"?

While "last company" is understandable, ""previous company"" is generally more accurate, especially if you've worked at multiple companies. "Last company" implies it was the final one.

What should I avoid saying when discussing my "previous company" in a job interview?

Avoid making disparaging remarks about your "previous company" or colleagues. Focus on positive experiences and lessons learned to maintain a professional image.