was employed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was employed" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that someone was hired or worked in a particular job or position in the past. Example: "She was employed at the company for five years before moving on to a new opportunity."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Violence was employed.

The New York Times - Books

He was employed".

The New Yorker

Aseptic technique was employed.

Nature

The word "cannibalized" was employed.

The New York Times

He was employed again but still uninsured.

The New York Times

Fractal analysis was employed.

Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology, Oral Radiology, and Endodontology

Within a week he was employed.

The New York Times

Mrs. Rowe was employed at Hackensack Med.

The New York Times

He was employed," Alimad told the newspaper.

The Guardian

In half, the wife was employed.

The New York Times

He was employed by the Post Office.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing someone's past employment, ensure the context clearly indicates the duration and nature of their role. For instance, "She "was employed" as a software engineer for five years" provides more clarity than just "She "was employed"".

Common error

Avoid using "was employ" instead of "was employed". "Employed" is the past participle form of the verb 'employ' and is required for the passive voice construction.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was employed" functions as a passive verb phrase, indicating a state of being hired or used in the past. It often appears in descriptions of someone's job history or the application of a method or technique. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

46%

News & Media

39%

Formal & Business

4%

Less common in

Academia

4%

Wiki

2%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "was employed" is a grammatically sound and frequently used passive verb phrase that serves to indicate a past state of being hired or utilized. As validated by Ludwig AI, it's versatile enough for use across diverse contexts, from scientific literature to news reports. It's crucial to use the correct tense and avoid common errors like "was employ". Depending on the specific nuance you want to convey, alternatives like "was hired" or "was utilized" might be more suitable. Remember to provide sufficient context when using the phrase to ensure clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was hired

Direct synonym, focusing on the act of being recruited for a job.

was utilized

Focuses on the act of being used for a specific purpose or task.

was engaged

Implies involvement or participation in an activity or role.

held a position

Emphasizes having a specific job or role within an organization.

was in service

Suggests being employed or working for someone or something.

was on the payroll

Indicates being officially employed and receiving payment.

was kept busy

Focuses on being occupied with work or tasks.

was made use of

Highlights the act of being used for a particular reason.

was given work

Emphasizes the act of receiving employment or tasks.

was under contract

Indicates formal employment with a written agreement.

FAQs

How can I use "was employed" in a sentence?

Use "was employed" to describe someone's past job or how something was used. For example, "He "was employed" as a teacher" or "A new technique "was employed" in the experiment".

What are some alternatives to saying "was employed"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "was hired", "was utilized", or "held a position".

Is it correct to say "was employ" instead of "was employed"?

No, "was employ" is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "was employed", using the past participle of the verb 'employ'.

What is the difference between "was employed" and "became employed"?

"Was employed" indicates a state of past employment, while "became employed" describes the action of entering into employment. For example, "He "was employed" at the company" describes his state, while "He "became employed" there last year" describes the action of him getting the job.