previously enlisted

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "previously enlisted" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to someone who has been enlisted in a military or other organization at an earlier time. Example: "The report includes information about soldiers who were previously enlisted in the army before the recent recruitment drive."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

He was forty-six, a father of two, a former Delaware attorney general who had previously enlisted in the Army and served in Iraq.

The New Yorker

The White House has previously enlisted Nunes, as well as a senior U.S. intelligence official, to knock down politically damaging reports about Trump and Russia.

The Washington Post

A year later, Mr. Russell, who was a graduate of Princeton University, was summoned to active duty by the British government after he had previously enlisted in the Royal Navy Voluntary Reserve.

The New York Times

He was made aware of the shooting by Mr. Crump, who had previously enlisted Mr. Sharpton to speak out against the death of a Florida boy at a boot camp in 2006.

The New York Times

Grizedale has previously enlisted another Turner-nominated artist to redesign the village library and persuaded The Kinks singer Ray Davies to write a school play.

BBC

Trump was well trained for his military service, having previously enlisted in the New York Military Academy at the age of 13.

HuffPost

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

It's an interesting inversion of the strategy Mulberry has previously employed, enlisting mass-appeal names – the aforementioned Delevingne, alongside musician Lana del Rey and Alexa Chung  – to "design" handbags bearing their recognisable, saleable sobriquets.

Independent

After collecting there other mercenaries no less in number than those previously enrolled, he also enlisted more than twenty thousand citizens as foot-soldiers and two thousand as mounted troops.

University of Chicago

Previously, they could enlist and ship for training, provided their background checks were initiated.

The Washington Post

While the two men said they had discussed the crisis in Iraq in their frequent talks leading to Mr. Kerry's decision this week to choose Mr. Edwards, they did not offer any ideas about what the United States should do to end the war beyond what they had previously called for: enlisting the help of allies and the United Nations.

The New York Times

Industry volunteers, who may have previously provided classroom instruction, are enlisted as judges and scoring officials.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "previously enlisted", ensure the context clearly indicates what the person or entity was enlisted in (e.g. "previously enlisted in the army"). This avoids ambiguity and provides a complete picture for the reader.

Common error

Avoid using "previously enlisted" without specifying the organization or service they were enlisted in. For example, instead of saying "He was previously enlisted", specify "He was previously enlisted in the Navy" for clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "previously enlisted" functions as an adverbial modifier followed by a past participle. It modifies a noun, indicating that the subject was enrolled or recruited at an earlier time. Ludwig confirms this usage with multiple examples in news and media sources.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "previously enlisted" is a grammatically sound and usable expression, as confirmed by Ludwig, that describes a past enrollment or recruitment. Its primary function is to provide background information, typically in neutral contexts like news and media or encyclopedic entries. While alternatives like "formerly recruited" or "enrolled before" exist, it's essential to ensure clarity by specifying the organization or service the subject was enlisted in. Avoiding redundancy and maintaining a concise writing style are key to effective usage. "Previously enlisted" is more useful when you want to indicate prior service or membership.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

previously recruited

Highlights prior recruitment efforts.

already enlisted

Emphasizes that the enlistment had happened before a certain point.

enrolled before

Focuses on the act of enrolling at an earlier time.

formerly recruited

Highlights the prior recruitment status.

had enlisted earlier

Emphasizes the time frame of prior enlistment.

earlier joined

Emphasizes the act of joining an organization or service in the past.

enlisted in the past

General term for previous enlistment.

beforehand signed up

Focuses on the prior action of signing up.

once enlisted

Focuses on a single, past instance of enlistment.

at one time enlisted

Highlights the enlistment as something that happened in the past.

FAQs

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

You can use "previously enlisted" to describe someone who had enrolled or joined a service or organization at an earlier time. Example: "The report includes information about soldiers who were "previously enlisted" in the army before the recent recruitment drive."

What are some alternatives to "previously enlisted"?

Alternatives include "formerly recruited", "enrolled before", or "earlier joined", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it redundant to say "previously enlisted before"?

Yes, using both "previously" and "before" is redundant. Stick to either "previously enlisted" or "enlisted before" for conciseness.

Can "previously enlisted" be used in non-military contexts?

Yes, although less common, "previously enlisted" can be used in non-military contexts to refer to someone who was earlier recruited or signed up for a cause or organization. For example, "She had "previously enlisted" volunteers for the environmental project."