previous position

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "previous position" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a job or role that someone held before their current one. Example: "In my previous position, I was responsible for managing a team of five."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Leave your previous position on a positive note.

WikiHow

Most voters were unmoved from previous position.

The New York Times

I had long resigned my previous position".

The Guardian

He repositions himself, notably, in relation to his previous position.

The Guardian - Opinion

Zynga again reiterated its previous position on the designs.

The New York Times

For rebuttal, Z simply restated previous position, "Dumbo is not an elephant".

The New Yorker

Mr. Vuolo will return to his previous position as chief financial officer.

The New York Times

About six months ago I returned to a previous position after a temporary assignment in another department.

The Guardian - Money

His most notable previous position was as managing editor of Money magazine, which is published by Time Inc.

The New York Times

Granted, it's all hanging on the status of their previous position and experience, but, arguably, that goes for any speaker.

The Guardian - Opinion

This is a reversal of its previous position, which was to discourage STPs from publishing their draft plans.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing someone's work history, use "previous position" to clearly and concisely refer to a role they held before their current one. This phrase is widely understood and suitable for formal and informal contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "previous position" when you actually mean "current position". Ensure clarity by double-checking that you are referring to a past, not present, role.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "previous position" functions primarily as a noun phrase, where "previous" acts as a pre-modifying adjective specifying the temporal aspect of the "position". It denotes a role or job held before the current one. Ludwig provides examples demonstrating its use in describing work history and career transitions.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Wiki

17%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

13%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "previous position" is a grammatically sound and highly prevalent term used to indicate a role or job held before the current one. Ludwig confirms its widespread applicability across diverse contexts, spanning from formal professional settings to informal discussions. As such, it is a neutral term. The frequency analysis reveals its common usage in news media, wikis, and science-related content. When precision is required, consider ""former role"" or ""prior post"". Ensure you are referring to a past role and not the present one.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

former role

Replaces "previous" with "former", emphasizing that the role is no longer held.

prior post

Uses "post" as a synonym for "position", indicating a job or duty held before the current one.

past occupation

Substitutes "position" with "occupation", referring to a job or activity performed in the past.

earlier job

Replaces "position" with the more informal "job", indicating a work-related role held at an earlier time.

preceding function

Uses "function" to denote the role or duty held before the present one, providing a slightly more formal tone.

previous appointment

Focuses on the act of being assigned or designated to a role before the current one.

past assignment

Uses "assignment" to specify a task or project undertaken in the past.

prior employment

Emphasizes the state of being employed before the current job.

historical stance

This alternative is used when referring to a former attitude.

original intent

This alternative describes a former goal.

FAQs

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

You can use "previous position" to refer to a job or role that someone held before their current one. For example, "In my "previous position", I was responsible for managing a team of five."

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

Alternatives such as "former role" or "prior post" can provide a more formal tone, particularly in professional or academic contexts.

Can "previous position" refer to a stance or opinion?

While "previous position" typically refers to a job or role, in some contexts it can refer to a prior stance or opinion. In such cases, consider alternatives like "historical stance" or "original intent" to avoid ambiguity.

Is it correct to say "position I had previously" instead of "previous position"?

While "position I had previously" is grammatically correct, "previous position" is more concise and idiomatic. Using "previous position" generally results in clearer and more natural-sounding writing.