she was working for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "she was working for" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate the organization or individual that someone is employed by or providing services to. Example: "She was working for a non-profit organization dedicated to environmental conservation."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

She was working for a large corporation.

The New York Times

"She was working for him, in his house.

The New Yorker

I asked her if she was working for McGovern.

The New Yorker

"Whom did you think she was working for?" I asked.

The New Yorker

She was working for a well-respected company and had recently received a raise.

The New York Times

"When she was working for us, quite frankly, she did a good job," Mr. Coluccio said.

The New York Times

By 1990, with a law degree from Northeastern University, she was working for GLAD in Boston.

The New York Times

She was working for Jonathan Logan in New York, she ran that fashion sort of thing.

The Washington Post

She was working for a home care agency two years ago when her marriage fell apart.

The New York Times

In Afghanistan, she was working for Global Exchange, a non-governmental organisation based in San Francisco.

The Guardian

She said she was working for Barclays Bank but wanted to leave," he said.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "she was working for", ensure the context clearly indicates whether it's a formal employment, a contractual agreement, or simply providing services.

Common error

Be specific about the nature of the work. Instead of just saying "she was working for" provide context: "she was working for them as a consultant", "she was working for the company on a temporary basis", or "she was working for him as a personal assistant".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "she was working for" functions as a verbal phrase indicating employment or service provision. As shown by Ludwig, it describes the relationship between a person and the entity they are serving. It indicates an ongoing action in the past.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

98%

Formal & Business

1%

Encyclopedias

1%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Science

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "she was working for" is a very common and grammatically correct way to express that someone was employed by or providing services to a specific entity. Ludwig AI confirms this with numerous examples from reputable sources. While versatile, ensuring contextual clarity and avoiding ambiguity by specifying the nature of the work is recommended. Alternatives like "she was employed by" can add formality or nuance, depending on the specific situation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

she was an employee of

A straightforward and formal way to state her employment status.

she was employed by

Replaces "working for" with a more formal synonym, emphasizing the employment relationship.

she was on the staff of

Focuses on her inclusion as a member of the organization's staff.

she provided services for

Emphasizes the act of providing services rather than the employment relationship.

she was in the service of

Indicates a sense of duty or dedication to the organization or individual.

she held a position at

Highlights her role or title within the organization.

she was contracted to

Highlights a contractual agreement for services.

she labored for

Implies hard work and effort directed towards the benefit of the organization or individual.

she was associated with

Implies a connection or affiliation, not necessarily direct employment.

she belonged to

Suggests membership or affiliation with a group or organization, less direct than employment.

FAQs

What can I say instead of "she was working for"?

You can use alternatives like "she was employed by", "she was on the staff of", or "she was contracted to" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "she was working for a company"?

Yes, it is grammatically correct. The phrase "she was working for" is commonly used to indicate that someone is employed by or providing services to a specific company or organization.

What's the difference between "she was working for" and "she worked for"?

"She was working for" implies that the employment or service was ongoing at a specific time in the past. "She worked for" suggests that the employment occurred at some point in the past, but the specific time frame is not emphasized.

How can I make the sentence "she was working for" more specific?

To be more specific, you can add details about the nature of her work or her role: "She was working for the company as a project manager", or "She was working for a non-profit organization dedicated to environmental conservation".