was employed at

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was employed at" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate a person's previous job or position at a specific organization or company. Example: "She was employed at the local hospital for over five years before moving to a new city."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

55 human-written examples

Mrs. Rowe was employed at Hackensack Med.

The New York Times

Molaison was employed at a sheltered work center near Hartford.

The New Yorker

Carlos Acevedo, a porter, was employed at the building during the last strike, in 1991.

The New York Times

She was employed, at the time, making hats, at the Irving Hulder Company.

The New Yorker

"I was employed at a time I couldn't do much about it," he said.

The New York Times - Health

He was employed at The Atlantic Refining Company, Philadelphia, PA and Seatrain Lines, New York.

The New York Times

Ryan was employed at Credit Suisse as a Director in the institutional equities group.

The New York Times

His first three books were published while he was employed at Moe's in Berkeley.

The New York Times - Books

After the war, when Szpilman was employed at Radio Warsaw, Gran asked him for work.

The New York Times - Books

Sims was born in Ontario where his father, an American engineer, was employed at the time.

Encyclopedia Britannica

He was employed at NL Industries for 34 years where he served in both Management and Engineering capacities.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "was employed at", ensure that you clearly specify the organization, company, or institution where the person worked. Providing specific dates or durations of employment adds clarity and context.

Common error

Avoid using other prepositions in place of "at" when referring to the company or institution. Using "in" or "on" is grammatically incorrect in this context. For instance, it is incorrect to say "was employed in Google" or "was employed on Google".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was employed at" functions as a verb phrase indicating past employment at a specific organization or location. Ludwig's examples showcase its use in various contexts, from news articles to scientific publications, confirming its versatility. The expression specifies the direct connection between a person and a workplace.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

35%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Academia

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "was employed at" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to denote past employment at a particular location. As Ludwig AI confirms, its versatility allows it to fit seamlessly into a wide array of contexts, from formal scientific papers to informal news articles. For clarity, always specify the name of the organization. While alternatives like ""worked at"" exist, "was employed at" offers a slightly more formal tone suitable for various professional communications. Avoiding the incorrect use of prepositions is critical to maintain grammatical accuracy.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

worked at

This is a more concise and common alternative, suitable for most contexts.

held a position at

This alternative emphasizes the specific role or position held.

was on staff at

This indicates being part of the regular personnel of an organization.

served at

Suitable when emphasizing a role that involves service or duty.

was a member of staff at

Similar to "was on staff at", but more formal.

was affiliated with

Implies a connection or association, not necessarily direct employment.

was associated with

Similar to "was affiliated with", suggesting a connection or relationship.

gained experience at

Emphasizes the acquisition of skills and knowledge during the tenure.

spent time working at

Highlights the duration of employment.

started his career at

Used to indicate the beginning of someone's professional journey.

FAQs

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

Use "was employed at" to indicate a past work experience at a specific organization. For example, "She "was employed at" the local hospital for five years".

What is a simple alternative to "was employed at"?

A simple alternative is "worked at". For instance, instead of "He "was employed at" IBM", you can say "He "worked at" IBM".

Is "was employed at" formal or informal?

"Was employed at" is generally considered neutral to slightly formal. It is suitable for both professional and general contexts.

What's the difference between "was employed at" and "worked for"?

"Was employed at" specifies the place of employment, while "worked for" emphasizes the entity or person. For example, "She "was employed at" Google" focuses on Google as the location, whereas "She worked for Google" highlights Google as the employer.