previously held

USAGE SUMMARY

"previously held" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate something that was true before a change happened. For example, "Previously held beliefs about the moon were proven wrong by the first lunar landing."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Services were previously held.

The New York Times

It confirmed their previously held beliefs.

The Guardian - Opinion

Tampa has previously held the Super Bowl.

The New York Times - Sports

Counterexamples to previously held conjectures are readily found.

Journal of Sound and Vibration

Anheuser-Busch must instead rely on previously held national trademarks.

The New York Times

And to reveal why she had previously held her tongue.

The Guardian - Sport

He previously held the job in Montreal and Florida.

The New York Times - Sports

The answer likely depends on one's own previously held beliefs.

The New Yorker

She previously held senior positions at global and regional agencies.

The Guardian

Mr. Nogawski's position was previously held by Roger King.

The New York Times

The seat was previously held by a margin of 2.6%.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing transitions in organizations, "previously held" is useful for highlighting changes in roles and responsibilities. For example, "The position of CEO was previously held by John Smith before he retired."

Common error

Avoid using "previously held" when the subject continues to hold the position or belief. Ensure the context clearly indicates a change in status.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "previously held" functions as a verb phrase, typically used as part of a predicate to describe a state or condition that existed in the past. According to Ludwig, it's a valid and usable phrase.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Academia

35%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "previously held" is a versatile and grammatically sound phrase used to indicate something that was possessed or maintained in the past. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability across various contexts. It is particularly common in news, academic, and formal business settings. When using this phrase, ensure that the context clearly demonstrates a change from a past state. Alternatives like "formerly possessed" or "once held" can be used for slight variations in emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

formerly possessed

Replaces "held" with "possessed" to emphasize ownership or control.

previously occupied

Focuses on the act of occupying a position or space.

formerly maintained

Highlights the act of maintaining a certain state or condition.

once held

Uses "once" to indicate a past time when something was held.

historically possessed

Emphasizes a long history of possession.

had previously

Inverts the phrase structure while retaining the meaning.

previously administered

Specifically used when referring to roles or responsibilities.

earlier held

Simple variation using "earlier" instead of "previously".

formerly under control

Emphasizes the control aspect of "held".

previously in charge of

Focuses on being in charge or having responsibility.

FAQs

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

You can use "previously held" to describe a role, belief, or item that someone possessed or maintained in the past but no longer does. For example, "The office was "previously held" by Mr. Thompson."

What are some alternatives to "previously held"?

Alternatives include "formerly possessed", "previously occupied", or "once held", depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "previously hold" instead of "previously held"?

No, "previously hold" is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is ""previously held"", as it uses the past participle of "hold" to indicate a past action.

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

"Previously held" indicates something that was true in the past but is no longer the case, while "currently held" indicates something that is true at the present time.