was not employed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was not employed" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that someone was not working or did not have a job at a certain time. Example: "During the economic downturn, many skilled workers were not employed for several months."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Morse Code was not employed either.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Random exclusion of AIRs was not employed.

Nature

If blinding was not employed, this should be clearly stated.

Nature

If randomization was not employed, this should be clearly stated.

Nature

Police say she was not employed directly by any pub.

The New York Times

"High-value migrants would not be refused because their British spouse or partner was not employed.

The Guardian

However, this value decreased to 21% when UV was not employed.

Science of The Total Environment

In contrast to earlier studies, an electric-field enhancing nano-tip was not employed.

Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment

In December, Marbury was languishing in Phoenix, Lenny Wilkens was not employed and Knicks Coach Don Chaney was miserable.

The New York Times - Sports

Apparently, the women's wrestling champ, Sable, a statuesque blonde, was not employed solely for her skills in the ring.

The New York Times

Indeed, I think it was almost certainly a breach of the ministerial code that he was not employed.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "was not employed" in formal writing, ensure the context clearly indicates whether you're referring to a specific period or a general state of unemployment. Providing additional information, such as the reason for not being employed, can enhance clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "was not employed" when the context requires a different tense. For example, instead of saying "he was not employed since graduation", use "he has not been employed since graduation" to indicate a continuous state up to the present.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was not employed" functions as a passive construction indicating a state of not being hired or engaged in employment. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a grammatically sound construction commonly found in diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

38%

News & Media

33%

Formal & Business

7%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

5%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "was not employed" is a grammatically correct and versatile expression used to indicate a lack of employment or engagement in work. As per Ludwig AI's analysis, it functions as a passive construction, frequently appearing in formal contexts like scientific publications, news articles, and business communications. While alternatives such as "was unemployed" or "was without a job" exist, "was not employed" offers a more formal tone. When using the phrase, ensure correct tense and contextual clarity to effectively convey the intended meaning. The phrase finds common use across various authoritative sources, including The New York Times and The Guardian, and is a valuable tool for expressing employment status in diverse writing scenarios.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was unemployed

Replaces "employed" with "unemployed", directly stating the lack of employment.

was not hired

Focuses on the action of not being selected for a job.

was without a job

Emphasizes the state of being without employment.

did not hold a position

Indicates the absence of holding a specific role or job.

was not on the payroll

Specifically refers to not receiving payment from an employer.

was not working

A more general term indicating a lack of work or employment.

remained jobless

Highlights the continuing state of being without a job.

was out of work

Similar to "without a job", but slightly more informal.

was not engaged

Indicates that someone's services were not used or contracted.

was unutilized

Focuses on the fact that somebody or something wasn't put to service.

FAQs

What is an alternative to saying "was not employed"?

Alternatives include "was unemployed", "was without a job", or "was not hired", depending on the specific context you want to convey.

How do I use "was not employed" in a sentence?

You can use "was not employed" to indicate that someone did not have a job or was not working during a particular time. For example: "During the recession, many skilled workers "was not employed" for several months."

Is it better to say "was not employed" or "was unemployed"?

Both phrases are correct, but "was not employed" is often perceived as more formal and can be used when you want to avoid directly stating someone's unemployment status. "Was unemployed" is more direct.

What is the difference between "was not employed" and "was not working"?

"Was not employed" specifically refers to not having a formal job or position, while "was not working" can refer to any situation where someone is not performing work, including temporary leave or not engaging in specific tasks.