previously she was

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "previously she was" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a state or condition that existed before a certain point in time. Example: "Previously she was the team leader, but now she has taken on a different role."

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Previously, she was a Professor at MIT for fifteen years.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Previously, she was an Associate Director at Smart Design.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Previously, she was a reporter at Bloomberg News.

Columbia University

Previously, she was the executive director of The Arca Foundation.

Harvard University

Previously she was a partner at WolfBlock LLP.

University of Pennsylvania

Previously, she was a reporter-researcher at The New Republic.

Columbia University

Previously, she was an intern for the Post's Metro section.

The Washington Post

Previously, she was a culture writer at MTV News.

The New Yorker

Previously, she was a correspondent for Politics Daily.

The Washington Post

Previously she was at Digital First Media's Project Thunderdome.

The Guardian

Previously she was chief of World Humanitarian Summit secretariat.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To enhance clarity, follow "previously she was" with specific details about the role or position, providing clear context for the reader.

Common error

Avoid using "previously she was" without clearly indicating the point of reference. Always provide enough context so that the reader understands when this previous state existed in relation to the current situation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "previously she was" functions as an introductory element indicating a former role or state of being. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness, supported by numerous examples where it sets up a contrast between past and present situations.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Academia

43%

News & Media

49%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "previously she was" is a grammatically sound and frequently used construction for indicating a person's former role or state, as validated by Ludwig. It is most commonly found in academic and news contexts. When using this phrase, ensure that the temporal context is clear to avoid ambiguity, and provide specific details to make the contrast vivid. While alternatives like "formerly she was" exist, "previously she was" provides a strong and clear way to introduce past experiences or roles.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

formerly she was

Replaces "previously" with "formerly", indicating a past time or condition.

before that she had been

Uses a more explicit structure to indicate a prior state.

prior to that she served as

Emphasizes a formal role held before the current one.

earlier she acted as

Highlights a past action or role.

in the past she functioned as

Indicates a past function or responsibility.

she once held the position of

Focuses on a specific position held in the past.

she used to be

Employs a simpler, more colloquial expression to denote a past state.

at one time she was

Indicates that at a certain point in the past, she held a particular role or position.

her previous role was

Focuses on the role itself rather than the individual's action.

she had been

Simple substitution to denote the past.

FAQs

How can I use "previously she was" in a sentence?

Use "previously she was" to indicate a former role, position, or state of being before her current one. For example, "Previously she was a marketing manager, now she is the CEO."

What are some alternatives to using "previously she was"?

You can use alternatives such as "formerly she was", "before that she had been", or "prior to that she served as depending on the context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "previously she was"?

Yes, the phrase "previously she was" is grammatically correct and commonly used to describe someone's former position or state.

What's the difference between "previously she was" and "before she was"?

"Previously she was" implies a direct contrast to her current role or state, while "before she was" simply indicates a state prior to a specific point in time without necessarily contrasting it with a current situation.