used to work at

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "used to work at" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate a past employment situation or job position that someone held at a specific place. Example: "I used to work at a marketing firm before I started my own business."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

Ian Curwen, who used to work at the Twenty-third Street store, once ate forty-eight.

The New Yorker

I used to work at the Met.

The New York Times

He used to work at McKinsey.

The New Yorker

He used to work at VH1".

The New York Times - Style

I used to work at Disney World for 11 years.

The Guardian

(Waldman used to work at the New York Times).

The Guardian - Books

Mrs. Thomas, 53, used to work at a temp agency.

The New York Times

"I used to work at Fannie Mae," he said.

The New Yorker

"They see the Dairy Queen they used to work at.

The New York Times - Magazine

After all, he used to work at the BBC.

The Guardian - Opinion

Marco Canora, the chef, used to work at Craft.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing past employment, be specific about the dates and your role to provide clear context.

Common error

Avoid switching between past and present tenses when describing past work experience. Maintain consistency by using "used to work at" alongside other past tense verbs.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "used to work at" functions as a verb phrase indicating past employment or a prior professional association. It describes an action or state that was true in the past but is no longer the case. Ludwig confirms its validity.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "used to work at" is a common and grammatically correct way to describe past employment, as validated by Ludwig. It functions as a verb phrase providing background information and is suitable for a neutral register. This phrase is prevalent in news media and is an effective way to express prior professional associations. Understanding its usage helps in maintaining clear and accurate communication about one's work history.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

used to be employed at

Passive voice construction indicating past employment.

previously worked for

Highlights past work experience with a specific entity.

I was an employee at

Direct and simple statement of past employment.

formerly employed by

Formal alternative emphasizing previous employment status.

held a position at

Focuses on the role held at a past workplace.

I used to be on the staff of

Another alternative with same meaning, slightly more formal.

was once an employee of

Formal and emphatic way to state past employment.

spent time working at

Highlights the duration of employment at a place.

past employment at

Focus on the past employment.

my former employer was

Focuses on the employer rather than the act of working.

FAQs

How can I use "used to work at" in a sentence?

You can use "used to work at" to describe a past job, as in "I "used to work at" a local bakery before becoming a chef".

What's a more formal alternative to "used to work at"?

A more formal alternative is "formerly employed by", which conveys a similar meaning in a professional context.

Is it correct to say "I use to work at"?

No, the correct form is "I "used to work at"". The "d" is essential to indicate past tense.

How does "used to work at" differ from "worked at"?

"Used to work at" implies a past habit or state that is no longer true, while "worked at" simply indicates past employment without necessarily implying discontinuation. For instance, "I "used to work at" that company" suggests you don't anymore, whereas "I worked at that company" is neutral.