they were employed for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "they were employed for" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe the purpose or role for which someone was hired or engaged in a job or task. Example: "They were employed for the project to enhance the company's marketing strategy."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

More than half of employees with specialist skills now consider their job to be mostly generalist despite the fact that they were employed for their niche skills, according to recent survey.

The Guardian

They were employed for the first time in [7] and were studied in the framework of Morrey-type spaces in [9].

Boundary Value Problems

Moreover they were employed for the selective removal of binary mixture of dyes including reactive red 223 dye (RR) and Malachite Green dye (MG) by ultrasonic assisted adsorption method.

Ultrasonics Sonochemistry

Although war pigeons and mobile dovecotes were used extensively during the Second World War, it is unclear to what extent, if any, they were employed for aerial photography.

Wikipedia

They were employed for on-call duty but also for day-time service.

BMC Health Services Research

Employees who worked at multiple hospitals during the study period were only included for the time spent at the hospital where they were employed for the longest period.

BMC Health Services Research

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

The BRFSS also asks respondents whether they are employed, to which they can answer that they are employed for wages, self-employed, out of work for less than 1 year, out of work for more than 1 year, a homemaker, a student, retired, or unable to work.

IZA Journal of Labor Economics

"I think the BBC forecasters become cult figures because they aren't trying to be personalities, and they are employed for their expertise," says Joe Moran, reader in cultural history at Liverpool John Moores University.

The Guardian

Also, they are employed for the design of nano-structured compounds [11].

Chemistry Central Journal

They are employed for top-down quantification of microscopic stress states inside the cement paste and the aggregates.

Underground Space

But when they get to Yarl's Wood, they can work, they can do cleaning, they are employed, for £1 an hour," she says.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "they were employed for", ensure the sentence clearly specifies the purpose or reason for their employment. Clarity is key.

Common error

Avoid using "they were employed for" without a specific and clear indication of what they were hired to do. Be precise about their role or task.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "they were employed for" functions as a predicate in a sentence, describing the reason or purpose for which individuals were hired or engaged. Ludwig examples confirm this usage, showing how it connects subjects to their intended roles.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

37%

News & Media

37%

Wiki

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "they were employed for" is a grammatically correct way to indicate the reason or purpose for which someone was hired. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and usability. It is most frequently found in scientific and news contexts. When using this phrase, ensure that the purpose of employment is clearly stated. While alternatives exist, such as "they were hired for" or "they were engaged for", the choice depends on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

they were hired for

Replaces "employed" with "hired", focusing on the act of being recruited.

they were engaged for

Uses "engaged" to emphasize a formal agreement or contract.

they were recruited for

Focuses on the recruitment aspect of their employment.

they were tasked with

Highlights the specific tasks or responsibilities assigned to them.

they were assigned to

Similar to "tasked with", but emphasizes the allocation of a role or project.

they were designated for

Implies a formal designation or appointment for a particular purpose.

they were appointed to

Suggests a formal appointment to a specific position or duty.

their job was to

Simplifies the sentence structure to focus on their job description.

they were commissioned for

Implies a formal request or order for a specific service or product.

they were retained for

Emphasizes that their services were kept or maintained for a particular purpose.

FAQs

How can I use "they were employed for" in a sentence?

Use "they were employed for" to describe the specific reason or purpose someone was hired or assigned a task. For example, "They were employed for the project to enhance the company's marketing strategy."

What are some alternatives to "they were employed for"?

Consider using alternatives like "they were hired for", "they were engaged for", or "they were tasked with" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "they were employed to" instead of "they were employed for"?

While both are grammatically acceptable, "they were employed for" emphasizes the purpose of their employment, while "they were employed to" focuses on the action they were hired to perform. The best choice depends on the context.

What's the difference between "they were employed for" and "they were working for"?

"They were employed for" typically refers to a specific task or purpose within a defined period, while "they were working for" indicates a general employment relationship with an organization over time.