previously employed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "previously employed" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to someone who has held a job or position in the past. Example: "She was previously employed at a marketing firm before starting her own business."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

It previously employed around 50 people in London.

Independent

Steele was reportedly previously employed as an adviser to help crush an insurgency in El Salvador.

The Guardian

Do they maintain the defensive system that they previously employed, or do they open things up?

The New York Times - Sports

Abbott and environment minister Greg Hunt had previously employed similar arguments to discredit Figueres.

The Guardian

He simply uses the highly developed observational skills he previously employed to "read" people's minds.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

All four of the previously employed rangers immediately signed up again.

The Guardian - Opinion

She was previously employed in the workshop, but quit when she was seven months pregnant.

The Guardian

He was previously employed at Warner-Lambert, and also served as President of the Reticuloendothelial Society.

The New York Times

Ms. Johnson was previously employed by the Richard Allen Center on Life, a foster care agency, which closed.

The New York Times

The RSF are a paramilitary unit comprised of Janjaweed militia previously employed by the government to battle rebels in Darfur.

The Guardian

And yet, there is only Jaime Zurita, previously employed by the Yankee Pedlar Inn in Holyoke, Mass.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In technical writing, "previously employed" can refer to methods or techniques that were used in prior research or applications; ensure context is clear to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "previously employed" when referring to a current job. Use present tense verbs like "is currently employed" or "works at" to describe their present employment status.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "previously employed" functions as a past participle phrase, typically modifying a noun or pronoun to indicate a prior state of employment. As per Ludwig, the phrase is valid and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

40%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

2%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "previously employed" is a versatile phrase used to denote a past state of employment, applicable across various contexts from formal reports to casual discussions. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used. Its frequency is high, particularly in news, science, and formal business settings. Alternatives include "formerly employed" and "once employed", offering slight variations in tone and emphasis. When using the phrase, ensure that the tense aligns with the intended meaning and avoid using it to describe a current job.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

formerly employed

Emphasizes a more formal tone and a complete separation from the past employment.

had previously worked

Adds emphasis on the action of working and its occurrence before another event.

once employed

Highlights a past period of employment, suggesting a change in status.

was earlier employed

Highlights the temporal aspect of the employment being in the past.

formerly worked for

Indicates a change in the employment status of a worker.

used to work

A more casual way to indicate past employment at a specific place.

previously utilized

Highlights a prior use or implementation in a formal or technical way.

employed in the past

A more literal and descriptive alternative, suitable for technical contexts.

historically utilized

Suitable for describing a technique, method, or resource.

has been previously used

Indicates that a method, technique or tool was implemented in the past.

FAQs

How can I use "previously employed" in a sentence?

You can use "previously employed" to describe someone's past job, for example: "She was "previously employed" as a software engineer before becoming a project manager."

What is a formal alternative to "previously employed"?

A more formal alternative to "previously employed" is "formerly employed". This option is suitable for professional or academic writing.

Is it correct to say 'previously employed at' or 'previously employed by'?

Both 'previously employed at' and 'previously employed by' are correct. 'At' is often used to specify a location, while 'by' indicates the employer. For example: "He was "previously employed at" the London office" or "She was "previously employed by" Google."

What is the difference between "previously employed" and "currently employed"?

"Previously employed" refers to a job someone held in the past, while "currently employed" indicates their present occupation.