seconded to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "seconded to" is correct and usable in written English.
It is usually used to indicate the movement of an employee from one organization or role to another. For example, "The civil servant was seconded to the Prime Minister's Office."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Young lawyers can learn from being seconded to clients.

The Economist

Ultimately, Riza was seconded to the State Department.

The New Yorker

I have now been seconded to another organisation.

The Guardian - Opinion

Its leaders are seconded to senior posts in the party too.

The Economist

Astonishingly, both men were seconded to the same training gym, the Kingsway, on 28th St.

The New Yorker

Immediately after the war Iveson was seconded to BOAC, flying converted bombers to the Far East.

Independent

Bower observes the sex-free harem seconded to his holiday yacht.

The Guardian - Books

Staff from Shell and npower's owner, RWE, are seconded to Decc for free.

The Guardian

She was initially seconded to the university to help students through the school-to-university transition.

The Guardian

I was seconded to a new post which lacked clarity and effective management oversight.

The Guardian

He was seconded to the role following his brief tenure as general manager of News International.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "seconded to" to clearly indicate a temporary transfer of an employee or individual from one organization or department to another. This term is especially useful in formal and professional contexts.

Common error

Avoid assuming that a position described as "seconded to" is permanent. The term inherently implies a temporary assignment, so clarify the intended duration if permanence is a possibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "seconded to" functions as a prepositional phrase indicating a temporary transfer or assignment of an individual from one entity to another. Ludwig examples show it describing staff moving between organizations for specific tasks.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Academia

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "seconded to" is a prepositional phrase commonly used to indicate a temporary transfer or assignment of an individual from one organization to another, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. It is grammatically correct and most frequently encountered in news, science, and formal business contexts. When writing, it's important to use this phrase to clarify the temporary nature of the assignment and avoid assuming it is permanent. While "seconded to" is suitable for professional and formal contexts, simpler alternatives may be preferred in very informal situations. Overall, this phrase is well-established and readily understood in professional settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

assigned temporarily to

Specifies a temporary assignment, similar to being "seconded to".

temporarily transferred to

Highlights the temporary nature of the transfer, aligning with the core meaning of "seconded to".

detailed to

Indicates a specific assignment to a task or location.

loaned to

Emphasizes the lending of an employee to another entity.

placed on temporary duty with

Formal phrasing for a temporary assignment.

assigned on a temporary basis to

Extended phrasing to clarify the duration of the assignment.

temporarily attached to

Suggests a joining for a limited time.

on assignment with

Focuses on the task or project to which someone is assigned.

on temporary deployment to

Commonly used in military or governmental contexts.

transferred for a limited period to

Highlights the time-bound aspect of the transfer.

FAQs

How is "seconded to" typically used in a sentence?

The phrase "seconded to" is used to describe a temporary transfer or assignment of an employee from one organization or department to another. For example, "She was "seconded to" the United Nations for a two-year project".

What are some alternatives to "seconded to"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "temporarily assigned to", "detailed to", or "loaned to". Each of these conveys a similar meaning of temporary assignment but with slightly different nuances.

What does it mean when someone is "seconded to" another organization?

When someone is "seconded to" another organization, it means they are temporarily transferred to work there, usually for a specific project or purpose, while still remaining an employee of their original organization.

Is it appropriate to use "seconded to" in informal writing?

While "seconded to" is more common in formal and professional contexts, it can be used in informal writing if the context warrants it and the audience understands the term. Simpler alternatives might be preferred in very informal situations.